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and Adjusters 

Handbook 

Second Edition 


By 

GEO. VELTEN steeb 

Author of “Fire Insurance Agents and Surveyors 
Focketbook of Information” and “Agents and 
Inspectors Pocketbook of Fire Protection 


Price $2 


1922 

THE SPECTATOR COMPANY 

NEW YORK 


CHICAGO 



rb 


$ 2 -- 
»«■ 




COPYRIGHT, 1908 , by 
THE SPECTATOR COMPANY 
NEW YORK 


COPYRIGHT, 1922, by 
THE SPECTATOR COMPANY 
NEW YORK 



FEB 28 1922 

© Cl A658115 




SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS 


PART ONE. 

Chapter i.—The Special Agent and His Agency Work. 
Chapter 2.—Inspection. 

Chapter 3.—Useful Information 

PART TWO. 

Provisions of the Contract of Insurance 
Applicable before a Fire. 

PART THREE. 

Provisions of the Contract of Insurance 
Applicable after a Fire. 

Chapter i.—The Adjuster. 

Chapter 2.—Waiver. 

Chapter 3.—Appraisal. 

Chapter 4 . —Depreciation. 

Chapter 5.—Abandonment, Subrogation, Suit for Re¬ 
covery, Compromise, Fraud. Payment of Loss. 
Chapter 6.—Proof of Loss. 

Chapter 7.—Rules and Tables on Building Losses. 
Chapter 8.—Rules and Tables on Contents Losses 


3 















PART ONE 


CHAPTER i. 


THE SPECIAL AGENT AND HIS 
AGENCY WORK. 


THE SPECIAL AGENT. 

Be not niggardly of what costs thee nothing , as courtesy, counsel 
and countenance. 

The successful special agent is a diplomat, but the personality 
of a special agent also has much to do with his success with 
the local agent, and the cultivation of the local agent is one of 
the prime factors in a special agent’s success; and as a pre¬ 
sentable appearance, neatness in dress and tidiness in person 
are always an introduction to the more elevated side of a 
person’s nature, it pays to give particular attention to these 
details, for mere personality is not always successful, especially 
when accompanied by slovenliness in person. 

Playing the part of “hail-fellow-well-met” with the average 
local agent is not the way Jto produce good business for a com¬ 
pany; rather will these things be the cause of the placing of 
the worst business the local agent has, on the book of the 
company represented by the special agent indulging in these 
practices. 

The average local agent would rather view the special agent 
as one equal to or even superior to himself, not only in t'he way 
of insurance knowledge, but in other respects as well,and a special 
agent who has lowered himself in the opinion of the local agent 
or an assured has done his company harm. Prominent essentials 
for success are tact, which should be used in all relations with 
the local agent, common sense, honesty, good judgment, fairness, 
largeness of view, sobriety and positive bearing; all these are 
characteristics which should always obtain. 

When in the mind of a special agent there arises a question 


5 





SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


as to what the decision should be on a specific subject, and he 
knows that he is not properly qualified for one reason or another 
to make a decision on it, it is better to defer any explanation 
with the local agent, merely stating that he will refer the matter 
to his company to get their'ideas on it; this does not place the 
special agent in the position of not knowing, but simply in a 
position of desiring to be certain as to the ideas of his company 
before making a definite statement; the “half-instructions,” 
indefinite explanations, inconclusive decisions of a special 
agent tend rather to lead a loc’al agent to doubt his knowledge 
than does the postponement of a positive decision while await¬ 
ing information from his company. 

Thou canst not joke an enemy into a friend , but thou mayst a 
friend into an enemy. 

A local' agent should never be left in doubt as to what the 
special agent means; all instructions should be plain, under¬ 
standable and positive, and where there could be the least 
possibility of a dispute or misunderstanding as to the meaning 
of any instruction given by the special agent, then the instruc¬ 
tion should be put in writing. “Jollying” a local agent is not 
at all desirable during business, that is, the kind of “jollying” 
that leads a person to believe that what is said is said as a joke 
and not seriously, for then any instructions which do not fall 
in line with the views of the local agent may be taken by him 
as a part of the “jolly,” purposely or otherwise, and this will 
certainly be apt to cause unpleasantness and dissatisfaction 
sooner or later, if not positive unfriendliness and distrust. 
Let a local agent realize that you know what you are talking 
about and then be positive in what you say. 

Since thou art not sure of a minute , throw not away an hour. 

In dealing with the company, honesty, accuracy, industry 
and loyalty should be paramount. 

VISITING AN AGENCY. 

Men and melons are hard to know. 

All the blank policies should be counted, for while agents 
as a rule are not dishonest, still, some are; study your agent 
carefully "before you fully trust him, for it is not well to blindly 
trust all agents to too great an extent. As they are paid on a 
commission basis, some of them feel that the companies can 
stand losses better than they can stand the loss of commissions 
through the refusing of business; others will issue policies 
wrongfully; others will issue policies out of order. An agent 


6 


SPECIAL AGENT AND HIS AGENCY WORK. 


of a large number of prominent companies in a large city issued 
policies covering on manufacturing plants and reported them 
as dwelling policies,—policies on theaters and mercantile 
buildings,—for a term of years and reported them as annual 
policies, etc., etc., and it was only through an accident in another 
agency that these conditions were discovered, and it then took 
the special agents connected with the agency three months to 
trace their policies and straighten out things, and this con¬ 
dition all arose from a “know-all” special agent not giving the 
office attention on account of the appointment being an original 
and a “pet” one of his, and his informing the other special 
agents of the particularly valuable “find” he had made, and the 
other special agents being derelict in their duties in not inform¬ 
ing themselves as to the personality and characteristics of the 
man and the following up of their business in the agency. 

The register or other record system of issuance of policies 
should be examined to see that policies have been properly 
issued in consecutive order and that all have been issued up to 
the first blank policy on hand. Carefully look over the register 
to see that it is properly kept,—what unfamiliar business has 
been written,—how the property is covered,—etc., etc., for 
many a point as to how a form should be made, whether a given 
form properly covers as intended, and other details can be 
obtained thus, and be the means of bringing forth needed in¬ 
struction to the local agent and the assured. It is not the 
intention nor the desire of reputable companies to cover prop¬ 
erty in such a way as to purposely leave a loophole in case of a 
loss. 

Facts are stubborn things. 

Classify the business of an agency and point out to the local 
agent the result and meaning of the conditions found. Different 
companies use different divisions for classification purposes, 
but for ordinary uses the three divisions of Preferred, Mercantile 
and Special Hazards will be sufficient to obtain a good idea as 
to how an agent is treating a company in the distribution of 
the various classes of business. 

Diligence is the mother of good luck. 

A special agent may not forward a mass of inspection slips 
to his office and still be in closer touch with his business than 
one who does forward many slips, for inspection slips are fre¬ 
quently filled in and sent to the company after only “map 
inspections,” or only from hearsay information from the local 
agent or from some other special agent,—“lazy inspections,” 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


and while such methods reduce the labor of the special agent, 
they are not only bad for the company, but also for the man 
himself who makes them, for the habit of laziness is an accumu¬ 
lative one and in time when a change of position or the visit of 
a superior officer to that special agent’s field occurs the result 
is bound to be bad for that man, and in the meanwhile he is 
losing the respect of his local agent and thus losing business for 
his company, for the respect which a local agent has for a special 
agent is reflected to quite an extent in the amount of business 
given to that special agent’s company. The secretary of a 
company, together with the special agent and the local agent, 
visited the lumber section of a large city with the idea of thor¬ 
oughly posting himself at first hand with the business of the 
company and the general conditions in that section, and although 
the special agent had forwarded reports on the general condition 
of the district and on each risk carried by the company, yet 
when a question as to “whose yard is this?” “have we a line 
here?” “where is our exposing line?” “what is our line here?” 
etc., etc., was asked, the local agent always had to make reply 
and the special agent could give no information whatever, and 
it did not take the secretary long to realize that the special 
agent knew nothing whatever about the business from personal 
examination and that he had never gone over the ground at 
all, but that his reports were merely “map inspections” reports, 
or copies of inspection bureau reports, or merely hearsay memo¬ 
randa; needless to say, this special agent “lost out” with his 
company and had difficulty in getting another position. 

RELATIONS WITH THE LOCAL AGENT. 

The fish may he caught in a net, that will not come to a hook. 

A special agent should be courteous in his dealings with the 
local agent, not overbearing, always a gentleman, not too 
familiar; the social side of the relation must be based upon the 
general characteristics of the local agent, for if he is a man who 
will try and “work” one on account of social connections, 
then the society side should be eliminated, but where it seems 
to give the local agent pleasure to meet the special agent socially, 
then the company will probably be benefited by this connection. 

The great, and the little have need of one another. 

The interests of the local agent should be recognized and 
helped along as much as possible; this does not mean that 
undesirable business should be passed, rate cutting “winked 
at,” and other bad practices allowed to continue without 


8 


SPECIAL AGENT AND HIS AGENCY WORK. 


criticism, for even where these things are found to exist they 
can be remedied and bettered without, to any great extent, 
harming the business of the local agent or hurting his feelings, 
by the use of a little diplomacy and common sense. Where 
any benefit can be obtained by a local agent by visiting an 
assured this should be done. Forms and clauses should be 
explained in such a manner as not to leave the agent or assured 
under the impression that the special agent believes either of 
them a fool or dunce for asking information on such matters, 
for a special agent who leaves a local agent or assured under the 
impression that he, the special agent, “knows it all,” and that 
the knowledge of others is as a “drop in the bucket” as com¬ 
pared with his knowledge and attainments, has there and then 
hurt himself and lost business for his company. Call the local 
agent’s attention to any new buildings noticed, to any and 
every condition in his town which seem of any moment from 
the standpoint of increasing premium receipts or affecting the 
general conditions of the business as to protection, or municipal, 
or personal conditions susceptible to betterment, and to every¬ 
thing else that may be of benefit to him or to the company in 
his territory. Offer to inspect prospective lines, do not always 
wait to be asked to do this. Do not always be in a “rush,” 
let the local agent feel that he and his business are worthy of 
attention and consideration; and in many other ways much 
assistance can be given a local agent to the betterment of the 
business and the increase of premium receipts. Good and 
friendly feelings on the part of a local agent for a special agent 
can be cultivated, and these are a big asset. 

It is a hard nut to crack . 

Beware of “ accommodation ’ lines, they are a bane to the 
business; it is frequently the wisest policy to turn an absolutely 
deaf ear to the pleadings of a local agent, but be diplomatic in 
doing this; again, sometimes it is wise to listen and help the 
local agent, but he will be just as happy with a small line written 
as with a large line, for he will feel that the company has gone 
out of its way to help him. 

Let him that receives the pro-fit repair the inn. 

Proper insurance to value should be insisted upon or an 
increase in rate commensurate with the decrease of a proper 
amount of insurance should be obtained, for if a reduction in 
rate is given by the companies for a co-insurance clause, an 
increase in rate is certainly proper for a lessening of the amount 
of insurance carried. 


9 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. • 


LOCAL AGENCY SUPPLIES. 

It is poor art that maintains not the artisan. 

These as a general thing comprise the agent’s commission, 
defining his rights, authority and privileges as conferred upon 
him by the company. A policy register in which a complete 
record of the policies issued and all written or attached matter 
thereon should be carefully kept; this should contain an ab¬ 
solutely correct copy of each policy; different agents, especially 
in the larger cities, keep their records on duplicate dailies, or 
on the card record system, but even in such cases at least a 
skeleton register should be kept. Policies of the standard type, 
also special dwelling, tornado and farm policies. Daily Reports 
should always show a complete record of the policy, with all 
written or attached endorsements, etc., together with as com¬ 
plete and correct answers as possible to all of the questions 
contained thereon; these reports should be made and forwarded 
to the company the day the policy is written. Monthly Accounts 
should be forwarded as early in the month as possible, in order 
to expedite the work of the accounting department at the office 
of the company. Endorsement blanks should be carefully 
and fully filled in and forwarded to the office the day the en¬ 
dorsement is placed upon the policy. Other supplies, such as 
stationery, forms, maps, advertising matter, etc., etc., are 
personal to each individual company. 

RATES. 

It is poor sport that is not worth the candle. 

Rates are now generally made on the basis of an analytical 
schedule by rating bureaus or associations, but this does not 
always mean that the rate will be considered adequate by every 
company; hence, because a rate is a published rate by a bureau 
or association, it does not remove the necessity of giving it 
consideration to see whether it is adequate or not. Rates are 
built up on a basis rate which obtains for the risks in one locality 
when applicable to mercantile or dwelling properties, and upon 
the class when applicable to special hazards; the basis rate 
being arrived at by taking into consideration the existing 
factors as to municipal conditions, general construction, building 
laws arid regulations, water works, fire department, police 
department, general height, area, materials of buildings, width 
of streets, paved conditions of streets, etc., etc., and to this is 
added for each risk deficiency charges built up on such defects 
as height and area, vertical openings, exposures, class of occu- 


io 


SPECIAL AGENT AND HIS AGENCY WORK . 

pancy, lack of fire protection, both public and private, etc., etc. 
These rates are issued in book or card systems and supplied to 
the companies and through them to the local agents in some 
sections, and directly to the local agents in other localities. 

APPOINTING AGENTS. 

Caution is the parent of safety. 

In appointing an agent his intelligence, probity, standing in 
the community, and his care of himself and his surroundings 
should all receive earnest consideration, for these things go to 
make up his personal assets, and on his side they should average 
up to the company he is to represent. He should be carefully 
and thoroughly posted upon his duties, his relations to the 
company, what class of risks are prohibited, how to write 
policies, how to keep his books and his accounts, etc., etc.; a 
little extra time spent with and instruction given to a new agent 
when he is appointed is apt to obviate much letter writing by 
the company and many visits by the special agent to him later 
on. 

The result tests the work. 


II 


CHAPTER 2. 


INSPECTION. 

Be always ashamed to catch thyself idle. 

This work is one of the important duties of the special agent; 
hence, it is peculiarly fitting that he should not only know and 
understand the common hazards, inherent or special hazards, 
but also have a good idea of the processes of manufacture of 
all kinds of products, the ways and means of eliminating or 
reducing to a minimum these hazards, and the ability to write 
an intelligible and concise report on his findings. In order to be 
and remain in such a position, close observation and the study 
of new as well as old processes, new discoveries in mechanics, 
applied science and chemistry, are prime requisites,—care, 
thoroughness and plenty of time are absolute necessities,— 
quickness of sight and perception and understanding are es¬ 
sentials. 

That which is well done is twice done. 

An inspection should be careful and thorough; plenty of time 
should be given to it; a saving of time and a lack of thoroughness 
and care may result in great loss expenses to the company or an 
unnecessary cancellation of a policy and the resultant loss of 
premium to the company. It is easy to order the cancellation 
of a policy, but this does not always imply good judgment or 
underwriting, for it is better underwriting to know when to stay 
on a risk than to arbitrarily cancel off of it, and what action to 
take can be best determined by a proper inspection; arbitrary 
cancellation tends to antagonize agents; cancellations ordered 
without proper investigation and inspection cause a local agent 
to lose his faith in the fairness and judgment of a special agent, 
and such results mean a lessening of premium receipts. 

Inspection work done by a special agent is not done on the 
same basis nor for the same purposes as inspection work done 
by inspection or rating bureaus; it is done to find out if the risk 
is one which, from a physical standpoint, is of a character 
acceptable to the company, if the rate is adequate for the 
hazards involved, if the conditions are found not entirely 
acceptable whether they cannot be made so with elimination of 
unapproved conditions, what the company’s line is, etc., etc.; 


12 



INSPECTION. 


not only is it necessary that a special agent shall be able to 
come to some positive conclusion on these points for himself, 
but that he shall be able to write such a report to his company 
as to present to them just what he sees in a concise and intel¬ 
ligent manner, that he shall be able to show the local agent 
that his reasons for a cancellation, or for requesting improve¬ 
ments, or for increasing the rate, are well taken and good, and, 
also, that he is able to point out defects to the assured and to 
suggest proper, reasonable and as cheap remedies as possible, 
consistent with good practices and standards. 

Exposing risks should receive as much attention as their 
amount of exposure to the risk inspected is a hazard to that 
risk. 

HAZARDS. 

No viper so little but it hath its venom „ 

Amongst the more generally found Common Hazards are: 
LIGHTING.—Gas; burners too near to inflammable materials; 
movable brackets; leaking joints. Oil; filling of lamps; 
oil from unclean lamps saturating wood. Gasolene; 
unapproved devices; inherent hazards of the fluid. 

Electricity; poor joints; improper taping of parts from 
which the insulation has been removed; bare wires; joints 
without solder; open fuse blocks; wires hung on metal; 
improperly supported wires; battery rooms not adequately 
ventilated; appliances subject to overheating against 
wood; unapproved devices; amateur connections and 
apparatus. 

Acetylene gas; calcium carbide refuse from calcium 
carbide; unapproved devices; poor ventilation at generator. 

All lighting appliances and apparatus should be of the 
type and construction and placed as per the Rules and 
Regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. 
HEATING.—Steam pipes against wood. Rubber tubing to 
gas stoves. Unprotected wood under heating appliances, 
either without sufficient space between them and the 
wood, or those burning coal and from which the ashes 
are drawn. 

Tile flues; Stove-pipes through wood and not properly 
thimbled; Poorly constructed brick chimneys; Wooden 
hot air conductors; Flues and Chimneys resting on floors, 
beams, joists, shelves. 

RUBBISH.—Left in comers or in wooden receptacles, or not 
thoroughly and systematically cleaned up and removed. 


13 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


HOT ASHES.—Placed in wooden receptacles, or left against 
inflammable materials. 

MATCHES.—From which the heads snap off. 

SAWDUST.—In spittoons. 

OILY WASTE.— Oily Metal Cuttings and Filings; Lamp¬ 
black in damp places. 

GASOLENE.— Benzine; Kerosene; Spontaneous Com¬ 
bustion. 

In addition to the Common Hazards the following risks have 

also, amongst other specific hazards, these prominent Special 

or Inherent Hazards: 

ACID WORKS.—Empty nitrate of soda bags; furnaces; hot 
gas conveyors; acid towers. 

AUTOMOBILE GARAGES.—Handling of gasolene; electric 
installation. 

BAKERIES.—Bake ovens. 

BARK MILLS.—Fine ground bark dust; high speed machinery. 

BARREL FACTORIES.—Barrel stoves. 

BLEACHERIES.—Hot or dry rooms; singeing; chemicals; 
drug room. 

BREWERIES.—Keg and barrel pitching; kilns; foreign mate¬ 
rials passing through malt mills; dust. 

BRUSH FACTORIES.—Pitching. 

CANDY and CONFECTIONERY FACTORIES.—Starching 
room; kettles. 

CARPET CLEANING.—Benzine; naphtha. 

CARRIAGE FACTORIES.—See Woodworkers. 

CASKET FACTORIES.—See Woodworkers. 

CELLULOID WORKS.—Highly inflammable nature of the 
compound, being made of gun-cotton and camphor; scraps 
in piles. 

CEMENT FACTORIES.—Pulverized coal dust. 

CLAY WORKERS.—Furnace heated tunnels where there is 
any wood in connection with the rack cars; dry rooms 
kilns too near woodwork. 

CLEANING and DYE WORKS.—Gasolene; naphtha. 

CLOCK FACTORIES.—See Woodworkers and Metal Workers 

COFFEE ROASTING MILLS.—Roasters: mills. 

COOPER SHOPS.—Barrel stoves. 


14 


INSPECTION. 


CORDAGE WORKS.—Dust; tarring. 

COTTON GINS.—Foreign materials passing through and 
causing the striking of sparks; flying lint. 

COTTON MILLS.—Openers; pickers; cards; lint; napping; 
mercerizing; drying. 

CURRYING SHOPS.—Board scrapings; grease. 

DYE WORKS.—Hot or dry rooms; singeing; chemicals; drug 
room; wood dust. 

DYEING and CLEANING.—Naphtha; benzine. 

ENAMELING PLANTS.—See Japanning Works. 

FERTILIZER WORKS.—Fish scrap; green bone mills; lamp 
black; acid works’, hazards. 

FLOUR MILLS.—Dust; frictional electricity; high speed 
machinery; oil cups without covers; open lights; heaters; 
conditioners. 

FURNITURE FACTORIES.—See Woodworkers. 

GRAIN ELEVATORS.—High speed machinery; absence of 
strut boards; shafting supported on bin work; open oil 
cups; dust. 

HAT FACTORIES.—Felting; drying (in felt); bleaching; 
drying (in straw); dust; alcohol; drying; singeing (in fur). 

INK FACTORIES.—Lamp black; oil boiling. 

IRON WORKERS.—See Metal Workers. 

JAPANNING WORKS.—Volatile liquids; inflammable vapors; 
drying. 

LACQUERING WORKS.—See Japanning Works. 

LARD OIL REFINERIES—Boiling and refining. 

LAUNDRIES.—Driers. 

LINOLEUM FACTORIES.—See Oil Cloth Factories. 

MACHINE SHOPS.—See Metal Workers. 

MATCH FACTORIES.—See Woodworkers; phosphorus. 

METAL WORKERS.—Cupola stack at roof; charging floor at 
cupola; gas in core ovens; oil on cores; naphtha for cleaning; 
lacquering; japanning; enameling; painting; dry rooms; 
polishing wheel dust; oily metal filings and cuttings; oily 
waste; ovens; oil-saturated floors and sawdust. 

OIL-CLOTH FACTORIES.—Coating; printing; drying; grinding 
and mixing colors. 

PACKING HOUSES.—Rendering; boiling; smoke houses; 
branding; barrel stoves. 


15 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


PAINT FACTORIES—Storage of oils, naphtha, benzine; 
grinding and mixing; lack of proper ventilation to carry 
off inflammable fumes. 

PAPER MILLS.—Dusting and cutting rags; drying. 
PATENT LEATHER FACTORIES.—Varnishing; baking; 
naphtha; lamp black. 

PRINTING.—Benzine; “broke”; roller cleaning. 

SHODDY MILLS.—Low-grade stock; picking; carding; lint. 
SHOE BLACKING FACTORIES.—Lamp black. 

SHOE FACTORIES.—Rubber cement; lamp black; board 
scraping; kit lamps. 

STARCH FACTORIES.—Drying; dust; high speed machinery. 
STOVE BLACKING FACTORIES.—Lamp black; naphtha. 
TANNERIES.—Bark mill; lime; fleshings; hair batteries; 

grease; whitenings; board scrapings, lamp black; drying. 
TOBACCO CURING.—Arrangement of the fires. 

TOBACCO FACTORIES—Drying. 

VARNISH WORKS.—Boiling; mixing; naphtha; turpentine. 
WAGON WORKS.—See Woodworkers. 

WOOD PULP MILLS.—Chippers; digesters. 
WOODWORKERS.—Kilns; dust; dust conveyors; caul boxes; 
painting; varnishing; dipping tanks; quick driers; naphtha; 
dry rooms. 

WOOLEN MILLS.—Burr pickers; openers; drying. 

Old and dilapidated buildings, buildings in the way of civic 
improvements, branch stores, buildings on leased ground with 
short or indeterminate leases, buildings not readily leased, 
buildings constructed and arranged for some one definite use 
and not readily converted for any other use, experimental 
plants, and such like propositions are as a general rule poor 
propositions from an insurance standpoint and need particu¬ 
larly close inspection and consideration. 

REPORT MAKING. 

INDIVIDUAL RISK REPORT. 

Reports should be as brief as possible consistent with an 
accurate, full and clear statement of conditions. All informa¬ 
tion pertaining to one subject should appear in one place and 
not be scattered throughout a report. As a general proposition 
an inspection report should be divided under the following 

16 


INSPECTION. 


heading: Exposures, Construction, Occupancy. Hazards, Pro¬ 
tection and a Summary, with each subject giving information on 
the following points amongst others: 

EXPOSURES.—Where the exposures are properly shown on 
a Sanborn map, reference to the map as being correct is 
usually all sufficient; where the map is not correct a cor¬ 
rection should be sent in; high rated exposures should be 
inspected and conditions and rate as well as distance stated; 
distance; character of risk and occupancy. 
CONSTRUCTION.—It is not always possible to ascertain the 
actual construction of a building, but in such a case the 
construction can be somewhat judged by the exposed con¬ 
struction. Floor construction is very difficult in many 
cases to determine; hence it is not well to state that “such 
and such” is the construction, but indicate that what 
information is given is only from hearsay, or merely an 
expression of judgment. The height in stories, material of 
construction, thickness and character of brick and stone 
walls, division, blank, fire walls; materials of posts, beams, 
girders, joists, flooring, partitions, roofs and other struc¬ 
tural features; number of buildings or divisions and how 
they are protected from each other; interior vertical open¬ 
ings, such as wellholes, elevatorways, stairways, dummy- 
ways as to construction, enclosure or trapping; kinds and 
location of fire doors and fire shutters; general condition 
of the constructional condition in detail. 

OCCUPANCY.—Floor by floor, building by building, section by 
section; in a manufacturing plant, the number of hands 
employed; in light manufacturing plants the number and 
kinds of machines used. 

HAZARDS.—Common hazards, special or inherent hazards; 
arrangement, protection, condition, whether safe, standard 
or not. 

PROTECTION.—Public fire protection, nearness of fire de¬ 
partment apparatus, fire plugs, fire alarm box. Private 
fire protection, such as pails, casks, sand, blankets, stand¬ 
pipes, hose, automatic sprinklers, open sprinklers, chemical 
extinguishers, watchman and watchclock. 

SUMMARY.—General remarks pertaining to the risk as a 
whole physically; care and order; general management; 
operative condition, unusual existing conditions, moral 
hazard, whether the assured is disposed to make necessary 
alterations, repairs and improvements suggested; line 
suggested. 


17 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


TOWN REPORT. 

General information covering on population, direction of 
prevailing winds, average height and material of buildings in 
the mercantile district, general material of roofs, whether the 
mercantile (business) section is closely built up, or scattered with 
dwellings, or dwelling sections intervening; width bf streets, 
street paving, grade of streets; dwelling section, special hazard 
section, general financial condition of the place, whether the 
manufacturing plants are operative or not, whether it is a 
“dead” place; location of outside electric wires; water works 
(source of supply, size of distributing mains, methods of supply¬ 
ing the water, whether gravity [reservoir or standpipe] or direct, 
with capacity of reservoir or pumps), domestic and fire pressure 
of water, average distance apart of hydrants, type of hydrants, 
fire department (volunteer or paid, number of men and kind 
and amount of apparatus), alarm signals and general location 
of boxes and whether key or keyless. 

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER REPORTS. 

Should give the name of the head, when installed, whether 
wet or dry pipe system, number of water supplies with brief 
description of each; average area covered by each head, whether 
there are a sufficient number of heads; whether valves are open 
or closed as required; automatic alarm and whether the entire 
system is in a good operative condition. 

Companies generally have their own printed blanks covering 
more or less specifically as per above, hence the preceding sug¬ 
gestions are only tentatively offered. 

MAP MAKING AND CORRECTING. 

Certain symbols are used by the mapmakers to designate 
given conditions and these symbols must be known in order to 
read, make or properly correct a map. 

Scale of maps should be 50 ft. to the inch. 

In sending in a map correction to a company the Sanborn 
symbols, page number, block number, street name and number 
should appear on it. 

In making a map of a town the Sanborn symbols should be 
used; blocks should be numbered; proper street names should 
be used; street fronts should be divided into lots and these should 
be numbered consecutively, with the even numbers on one side 
of the street and the uneven numbers on the other side. 


18 


Counting from left to 


INSPECTION. 




Fire Wall 6 inches above 
roof. 


Fire Wall 12 inches 
above roof. 


Fire Wall 18 inches 
above roof. 


Frame Partition. 


Opening and Iron Door. 


Windows and Iron Shut¬ 
ters. 


Stable. 


bo 

g 

3 

O 

° t» 

a 

JUT3 

IS'3 


X u 
bo rt 

•C £ 



Window openings in First story. 

Window openings in Second story. 

Window openings in First and Third 
stories. 

Window openings in Second and Fourth 
stories. 


19 










SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


SANBORN MAP SYMBOLS. 

Buildings colored Yellow indicate Frame. 

Buildings colored Red indicate Brick. 

Buildings colored Blue indicate Stone. 

Buildings colored Gray indicate Iron. 

Buildings colored Brown indicate Adobe. 

Buildings colored Green indicate Specials. 

Buildings marked (£L) are Cloth Lined. 

X Shingle Roof. 

O Metal or Slate Roof. 

• Composition or Gravel Roof: 
mtm Steam Boiler. 

Figures in circle ( 5 )@ indicate relative height of buildings. 

Broken Lines near buildings indicate wood cornice. 

Solid Lines near buildings indicate metal cornice. 


20 


CHAPTER 3. 


USEFUL INFORMATION. 


DEFINITIONS. 

AVERAGE (Distribution) CLAUSE.—A clause attached to a 
policy covering property in various locations, the object 
of which is to cause to apply to each location in case of fire, 
such a percentage of the whole amount of insurance as the 
value of the property in each location bears to the total 
value of all of the property insured. 

BETTERMENTS.—Improvements made to or in a building 
of a character superior to ordinary repairs and become 
practically an integral part of the building. These can be 
specifically insured. 

CO-INSURANCE CLAUSE.—A clause stipulating that the 
insured shall carry an amount of insurance equal' to a 
definite percentage of the cash value of all the property 
insured, or failing to do so, that he shall, in case of loss, 
become a co-insurer to the amount of such deficit and 
contribute to any loss in the same percentage as his deficit 
bears to the stipulated amount of insurance. A reduction 
in rating or a special rate is given where a proper co-insur¬ 
ance clause is carried. 

Where the proper amount of insurance is carried the 
total amount of any loss up to the face of the policies is 
paid. In case of a total loss the total amount of the 
insurance carried, whether the terms of the clause have 
been complied with or not, is paid. In case of a loss 
equal to the amount of the stipulated amount of insurance 
to be carried, the total amount of the insurance carried, 
whether the terms of the clause have been complied with 
or not, is paid. In case of partial loss and the proper 
amount of insurance is not carried the insured becomes a 
co-insurer and must bear his proportionate part of the 
loss. Example: Value of stock, $100,000; policies carry 
an 80% co-insurance clause. At time of a fire with a loss 
of $2,000 it is found that but $60,000 of insurance is carried. 


21 




SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Total insurance stipulated, $80,000; loss. $2,000 

Insurance companies carry $60,000, or 75%, and pay 75%, or.. ii 5 °° 

Insured’s deficit, $20,000, or 25%; contributes to the loss in 

like proportion, i.e., 25%, or. 5 °° 


COMMON HAZARDS.—Refers to the hazards which are in¬ 
cidental to all classes of risks, such as heating, lighting, 
rubbish, etc. 

CONCURRENT INSURANCE.—Insurance covering the same 
property in the like manner and which would bear the 
loss proportionately with the primary or subsequent 
insurance if there were no restrictive or other clauses 
governing the application of the insurance or the amount 
to be carried (such as co-insurance, three-quarter loss, or 
three-quarters value clause) hence pertains to the property 
covered under the item or items and the proportion in 
which this is covered, and does not relate to permissions 
granted or restrictions placed upon, or other endorsements 
or conditions of a policy. 

DELIVERY OF A POLICY, to be “actual,” must be delivered 
to the insured or his agent in person, or by registered mail; 
is “constructive” when held by the company or its agent. 

EARNED PREMIUM.—That portion of the primary premium 
accruing to the insuring company for the period of time 
the policy has been in force and effect. 

FULL INSURANCE.—When the amount of insurance carried 
is equal to the cash value of the property covered. 

HAZARD.—The risk, peril or exposure to damage, and is the 
contingency insured against. 

HAZARDS.—Those things which tend to produce or carry 
fire; they are both physical and moral. 

INHERENT HAZARD.—Refers to the hazard peculiar to any 
one specific class of insurable property; is an interchange¬ 
able term with specific hazards. 

INSURED.—Interchangeable with assured and refers to the 
party insured. 

INSURER.—Interchangeable with the company and is the 
underwriter carrying the policy. 

IRON SAFE CLAUSE.—A clause placed upon policies which 
stipulates that the insured shall at stated intervals take 
inventories of his merchandise, shall keep books of sales 
and purchases, and that he shall keep these things in an 
iron safe or in some place not subject to the same fire which 
may destroy the building in which the property insured 
is located, and that in case of loss he shall produce these 
records. 


22 




USEFUL INFORMATION. 


LIGHTNING CLAUSE.—A clause under which a company 
assumes the liability for direct loss and damage by lightning. 
This clause is generally attached to policies covering build¬ 
ings and without extra cost. 

MORAL HAZARD.—The hazard incidental to the lack of 
financial responsibility, poor business investment, un¬ 
profitable business, loss of business standing, over-insurance, 
lack of credit, a “get-rich-quick” desire, etc., and may 
result in a fire either from design and with intention, or 
from negligence and carelessness, but a risk with a poor 
moral hazard is always a bad proposition from an insurance 
standpoint. 

OTHER ARTICLES AS ARE USUALLY KEPT IN. 

or KEPT FOR SALE IN. This will cover such 

things as ether, phosphorus, benzine, benzole, etc., in a 
drug store; benzine, naphtha, etc., in a paint store; gaso¬ 
lene in a general store, or automobile garage, prohibited 
articles in manufacturing plants. The N. Y. Standard 
Policy stipulates that “This entire policy, unless otherwise 
“provided by agreement indorsed hereon or added hereto, 
“shall be void if (any usage or custom or trade or manu¬ 
facture to the contrary notwithstanding) there shall be 
“kept, used, or allowed on the above premises, Benzine, 

“.Benzole,. Ether,. Gasoline,.... 

“ ... . Naphtha,.Phosphorus,” but such a reading 

of a form acts as the “agreement indorsed” on the policy; 
this wording acts in the same way in manufacturing plants 
where practically anything can be kept in any quantity 
under the wording. No policy should permit such a broad 
permit for the keeping and use of particularly hazardous 
articles, especially without any restriction as to quantity, 
care or use. 

PAROL (or PAROLE).—Given by word of mouth; oral, not 
written, opposed to documentary, or given by affidavit: 
as parole evidence. (Cent. Diet.) 

PARTIAL INSURANCE.—When the amount of insurance 
carried is only equal to a percentage of the cash value of 
the property insured. 

PHYSICAL HAZARD.—The hazards pertaining to the con¬ 
struction, exposures, arrangements, operations, care, pro¬ 
cesses of manufacture, and the like in a risk, and are both 
common and specific or inherent. 

PREMISES.—The building insured or containing the property 
insured. 


23 










SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


PREMIUM.—The money consideration' given by the insured 
for the liability assumed by the company and the indemnity 
contracted for. 

PRO RATA; In proportion.—The pro rata rate is the rate 
charged the insured when a policy is canceled by the 
company, and is the same percentage of the primary rate 
as the length of time the policy has been in force is to the 
length of time for which it was written. 

RETURN PREMIUM.—The portion of the primary premium 
due the insured upon the cancellation of a policy. 

SALVAGE.—Any property covered by the insurance and 
saved from total loss by a fire. 

SHORT RATE.—The percentage of the primary rate charged 
for a policy canceled by the insured before its date of ex¬ 
piration; also, the rate charged for a policy written for a 
shorter period of time than one year. (See Short Rate 
Tables, pages 51-58.) 

SPECIAL HAZARD.—Manufacturing risks are referred to as 
Special Hazards. Also relates to the inherent hazards of 
a risk, being such hazards as are peculiar to the risk in¬ 
dividually. 

“SUBJECT TO (any) CLAUSE.”—This endorsed on a policy 
has no meaning; any condition or stipulation, or agreement 
to which the policy is subject, must be endorsed upon the 
policy in full. 

THE RISK.—The property covered. 

THREE-FOURTH LOSS CLAUSE.—A clause limiting the 
recovery by the insured in case of loss to seventy-five per 
cent, of such loss. 

THREE-FOURTHS VALUE CLAUSE.—A clause limiting 
the amount of insurance which the insured is permitted 
to carry to seventy-five per cent, of the cash value of the 
property covered, by limiting recovery in case of fire to 
seventy-five per cent, of the actual cash value of the 
property covered. The co-insurance clause calls for a 
certain amount of insurance and penalizes the insured if 
he carries less, while the three-quarters value clause limits 
the amount of insurance he can carry and penalizes him if 
he carries more. 

TOTAL LOSS.—Generally applied to the condition when the 
amount of loss equals or exceeds the amount of insurance 
carried. 


24 


USEFUL INFORMATION. 

UNDERWRITING.—The issuing of a policy of insurance. 

UNEARNED PREMIUM.—The portion of the primary pre¬ 
mium due the insured upon the cancellation of a policy. 

ELECTRIC LIGHT CIRCUITS. 

SERIES.—When lamps are arranged in succession in a circuit, 
so that the current goes through one after the other, they are 
said to be in series. A constant current with a variable 
pressure is generally used. 

-O-o-O-o-o- 


Series Connections. 

MULTIPLE.—Ordinary incandescent lamp circuits are usually 
connected in multiple; that is, the lamps are arranged 
parallel with each other. 


Multiple Connections. 

MULTIPLE SERIES.—The arrangement of electric apparatus 
in a circuit in a number of series, which minor series are 
then arranged in parallel. There is a special hazard here 
in overloading the generator by throwing in more series 
than the capacity of the generator will stand, and thus 
either burning out the armature or all of the generating 
apparatus by a short circuit, together with the serious 
hazard of overheating of the circuit. A variable current 
and a constant pressure are used. 



25 












SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK . 


SERIES MULTIPLE.—The lamps are arranged in series, in 
parallel, and the series connected. This is the most hazard¬ 
ous way of lighting, as by accident to one lamp in a series 
an increased current must be taken care of by the remaining 
lamps of the series and a burning out of lamps, connections 
and circuit is apt to follow, together with an overheating 
of the entire circuit. The current is a constant one. 



No system of MULTIPLE series or SERIES-MULTIPLE 
for light or power is approved on high potential systems. 


HYDRAULICS. 

Hydraulics treats of the flow or motion of water through 
pipes, aqueducts, rivers and other channels; also through 
orifices or openings of various kinds; of machinery for raising 
water; as well as that in which water furnishes the motive 
power. 

The HEAD of water, as applied to the flowage of water 
through canals, pipes or openings, means the vertical distance 
from the level of the water to the center of the orifice through 
which the water flows freely into the air; or the distance from 
the same level to the water in the lower reservoir when the 
discharge takes place under water. 


HYDROSTATICS. 

Hydrostatics treats of the pressure of water and other liquids 
when in a state of rest or quiet. 

The pressure of water is always in a perpendicular direction 
to any surface upon which it acts without any reference to the 
shape of the surface. 

For the pressure in pounds per square inch at any given 
depth multiply the depth in feet by .434. 

For the pressure in pounds per square foot at any given 
depth multiply the depth in feet by 62.5. 


26 






USEFUL INFORMATION. 


For the pressure in tons per square foot for any given depth 
multiply the depth in feet by .0279. 

For the depth in feet at which any given pressure exists 
divide the pounds per square inch by .434, or the pounds per 
square foot by 62.5, or the tons per square foot by .0279. 

The following table gives the pressure of water to the nearest 
pound per square foot at different vertical depths; and also the 
total pressure against a plane one foot wide extending vertically 
from the surface to those depths. The first increases as the 
depth; the last as the square of the depth. 


Depth 

in 

Feet. 

Per 

Square 

Foot. 

On 

Vertical 

Plane. 

8 

500 

2,000 

9 

562 

2 , 53 i 

10 

625 

3,!25 

11 

687 

3,78i 

12 

75 ° 

4 , 5 °° 

13 

812 

5,281 

14 

875 

6,125 


Depth 

in 

Feet. 

Per 

Square 

Foot. 

On 

Vertical 

Plane. 

i 5 

937 

7 , 03 1 

16 

1,000 

8,000 

20 

1,250 

12,500 

22 

i ,375 

I 5, I2 5 

25 

1,562 

i 9 , 53 i 

30 

i ,875 

28,125 

35 

2,187 

38,281 


In a Cubical vessel filled with water, the pressure on the base 
is equal to the weight of the water; on each of the four sides to 
one-half the weight of the water, and on the bottom and the 
four sides together to three times the weight of the water. In 
a full Spherical vessel the total pressure against its entire 
interior surface is also equal to three times the weight of the 
water, as in a Cubical one. 


UNITED STATES STANDARD GALLON OF WATER. 


Cubic 

Weight of a 

Gallons 

Weight of a 

Inches in 

Gallon in 

in a Cubic 

Cubic Foot of 

Gallon. 

Pounds. 

Foot. 

Water in Pounds. 

231 

8.33m 

7.480519 

62.50 


240.97 gallons weigh one ton of 2,000 pounds; 1,000 gallons weigh about 
4^ tons. 


27 




















SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK . 


WEIGHT OF WATER (at 62 1=4 pounds per cubic foot) 
CONTAINED IN ONE=FOOT LENGTHS OF PIPES 
OF DIFFERENT BORES. (Trautwine.) 


Bore, 

Inches. 

Water, 

Pounds. 

Bore, 

Inches. 

Water, 

Pounds. 

Bore, 

Inches. 

Water, 

Pounds. 

h 

.08488 

if 

1.0398 

6 

12.223 


.19098 

2 

i. 358 i 

8 

21.729 

1 

•33952 

2 \ 

2.1220 

10 

33-952 


.53050 

3 

3-0557 

12 

48.891 


.76392 

4 

5-4323 

16 

86.916 



5 

8.4880 




THEORETICAL VELOCITY OF WATER IN FEET PER 

SECOND. 


Head, 

Feet. 

Velocity, Feet 
per Second. 

Head, 

Feet. 

Velocity, Feet 
per Second. 

. Head, 
Feet. 

Velocity, Feet 
per Second. 

10 

25-4 

35 

47-4 

75 

695 

12 

27.8 

40 

50.7 

80 

71.8 

15 

311 

45 

53-8 

85 

74-0 

18 

34 -o 

50 

56.7 

90 

76.1 

20 

35-9 

55 

59-5 

95 

78.2 

22 

37-6 

60 

62.1 

100 

80.3 

25 

40.1 

65 

64.7 

125 

89.7 

30 

43-9 

7 o 

67.1 

150 

98.3 


TABLE SHOWING THE PRESSURE OF WATER PER 
SQUARE INCH AT DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS. 


Height 

in 

Inches. 

Pressure. 

Height 

in 

Inches. 

Pressure. 

Height 

in 

Inches. 

Pressure. 

6 

2.60 

45 

19.49 

140 

60.64 

8 

3-40 

50 

21.65 

150 

64 97 

10 

4-33 

60 

25-99 

160 

69.31 

L 5 

6.49 

7 o 

30.32 

170 

73 64 

20 

' 8.66 

80 

34.65 

180 

77 97 

25 

10.82 

90 

38:98 

190 

82.30 

30 

12.99 

100 

43-31 

200 

86.63 

35 

15.16 

no 

4764 

215 

93-14 

40 

17.32 

O O 

Cl CO 

5 1 .98 

56.31 

230 

99 63 


28 













































USEFUL INFORMATION. 


TABLE OF CONTENTS OF PIPES FOR ONE FOOT IN 
LENGTH IN CUBIC FEET AND U. S. GALLONS OF 
231 CUBIC INCHES OR 7.4805 GALLONS TO 
A CUBIC FOOT. 


Diameter 

in 

Inches. 

Diameter in 
Decimals of a 
Foot. 

Cubic Feet, 
also Area in 
Square Feet. 

Gallons. 

1 

.0625 

.0031 

.0230 

1 

•0833 

•o°S 5 

.0408 

i^ 

. 1042 

.0085 

.0638 


.1250 

.0123 

.0918 

if 

.1458 

.0167 

.1249 

2 

. 1667 

.0218 

.1632 

2* 

.2083 

.0341 

•2550 

3 

.2500 

.0491 

.3672 

3 k 

.2917 

.0668 

• 4998 

4 

•3333 

• 0873 

.6528 

5 

.4167 

.1364 

# i.020 

6 

.5000 

.1963 

1.469 

8 

.6667 

• 3491 

2.611 

10 

•8333 

•5454 

4.080 

1 2 

1. 

•7854 

5-875 

• 16 

1-333 

1.396 

10.44 

20 

1.667 

2.182 

16.32 

24. 

2.000 

3-142 

33 - 50 . 


CAPACITY OF “ROUND” TANKS IN GALLONS FOR 
EACH FOOT IN DEPTH. 


Diameter. 

Gallons. 

1 

Diameter. 

Gallons. 

Feet. Inches. 

8 

375-94 

Feet. Inches. 

16 

x 503-92 

8 6 

424.41 

17 

1698. 

9 

475 -80 

18 

1903. 

9 6 

53 o.i 8 

19 

2121. 

10 

587-47 

20 

2350. 

10 .6 

647•69 

22 

2844. 

10 9 

678.88 

24 

3384. 

11 

710.82 

26 

397 x - 

11 6 

776.87 

28 

4606. 

11 9 

811.05 

30 

5288. 

12 

846.03 

32 

6016. 

12 6 

9 X 7 87 

36 

7617. 

13 

992.82 

40 

9400. 

13 6 

1070.61 

45 

11897. 

14 

II 5 I -39 

56 

14688. 

i 5 

1321.79 

60 

21151. 


29 
























UNDER SAME CONDITIONS. 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


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30 




































































































































USEFUL INFORMATION. 

TEMPERATURE OF STEAM AT VARIOUS PRESSURES, 

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE 14.7 DEGREES IN FAHRENHEIT SCALE. 


Pressure 

per 

Sq. Inch. 

Degrees 

of 

Temperature. 

Pressure 

per 

Sq. Inch. 

Degrees 

of 

Temperature. 

Pressure 

per 

Sq. Inch. 

Degrees 

of 

Temperature. 

1 

216.3 

18 

255-7 

65 

311.8 

2 

219.4 

20 

259.2 

70 

316.0 

3 

222.4 

22 

262.5 

75 

320.0 

4 

225.2 

24 

265.6 

80 

323 -9 

5 

a 

227.9 

26 

268.6 

85 

327.6 

0 

230.5 

28 

27 i -5 

90 

33 i-i 

7 

0 

2330 

3 ° 

274-3 

95 

334-5 

0 

235-4 

32 

277.0 

100 

337-8 

9 

237-7 

34 

279.6 

105 

34 i -o 

10 

240.0 

40 

286.9 

110 

344-0 

12 

244-3 

45 

292.5 

”5 

347 -o 

r 4 

248.3 

50 

297.8 

120 

35 °-o 

16 

252.1 

55 

302.7 

*25 

352.8 



60 

307 -4 




Steam flows into atmosphere at the rate of 650 feet per second. 


FIRE TEMPERATURES AND APPEARANCES (FAHRENHEIT). 

Degrees. 
. 550 


2,000 


Degrees. 

Red, just visible. 007 

Red, dull. 1,290 

Cherry, dull. 1,470 

Cherry, full. 1,650 

Orange, deep. 2,000 

Orange, clear. 2,190 

White. 2,370 

White, bright, dazzling. 2,730 

Wood chars at. 350 

Whitewash. —A good and lasting, partly fireproof whitewash 
is made of slaked lime in a brine in which as much salt and alum 
have been dissolved as the water will take up. 


Wood burns at. 

Cast-iron fuses at.. 

Glass fuses at. 2*377 

Steel fuses at. 2^550 

Wrought-iron fuses at. 2,900 

Fire brick fuses at. 4,000 

Steam is resolved into its 
natural gases, oxygen and 
hydrogen at. 1,470 


RULES AND REQUIREMENTS AND LISTS OF THE 
NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS IN 
FORCE 1908. 

Auxiliary Fire Alarm Systems (1903). 

Cast-Iron Tar-Coated Water Pipe for Mill Yard Use 

(190 1 ). 

Chemical Fire Extinguishers: 

Stationary Chemical Fire Extinguishers and Standards 
for Carbonic Acid Gas Hand Fire Extinguishers for 
other than Fire Department use (1901). 

List of Approved Carbonic Acid Gas Hand Fire Extin¬ 
guishers (March, 1907). 


31 




































SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Electrical: 

“National Electrical Code,” 1907. 

List of Approved Electrical Fittings (October 1907). 
Engines: 

Gas and Gasolene Engines (1905). 

List of Stationary Gasolene Engines (April 1, 1907). 

Fire Doors and Shutters (1906). 

Fluids: 

Systems for Storing 250 Gallons or less of Fluids which at 
ordinary Temperature give off Inflammable Vapors 

( I 9 ° 4 ). 

Fuel Oil and for the Construction and Installation of 
Oil Burning Equipments; Storage and Use of 
(1902). 

Gas: 

Coal Gas Producers, Pressure and Suction Systems (July, 

1905)- 

List of Approved Suction Gas Producers (February 1, 1907). 
Gas Machines: 

Acetylene Gas Machines, and for the Storage of Calcium 
Carbide (1903). 

Supplement of 1904. 

List of Approved Acetylene Gas Machines (March 15, 
I 9 ° 7 )- 

Gasolene Gas Machines. 

List of Approved Gasolene Gas Machines using Inside 
Carbureters (January 15, 1908). 

List of Approved Gasolene Gas Machines using Outside 
Carbureters (January 15, 1908). 

List of Approved Gasolene Lighting Systems having Out¬ 
side Tanks and Inside Flame Heated Generators (Na¬ 
tional Board Rules, Class C—Oil Distributing Systems. 
January 15, 1908). 

List of Approved Gasolene Vapor Lamps (February 15, 
1908). 

Gasolene Stoves for Cooking and Heating, List of Ap¬ 
proved (April 25, 1905). 

Grain Dryers (1901). 

Hose: 

ij-inch, i^-inch and 2^-inch Unlined Linen Fire Hose for 
use Inside of Buildings (1905). 

Private Department Fire Hose for Mill Yard use (1902). 
List of Approved 2f-inch Cotton Rubber Lined Fire Hose 
(May, 1908). 


3 2 


USEFUL INFORMATION. 


Hose Couplings and Hydrant Fittings for Public Ser¬ 
vice; National Standard (1908). 

Hose Houses for Mill Yards (1905). 

Hydrants for Mill Yard Use (1902). 

Kerosene Oil Pressure Systems (1902). 

Lightning, Protection Against (1907). 

Private Fire Departments (1902). 

Pumps: 

Electric Fire Pumps (1904). 

Rotary Fire Pumps (1905). 

Steam Fire Pumps (1905). 

Steam Pump Governors and Auxiliary Pumps (1905). 
Railway Car Storage and Operating Houses, Construc¬ 
tion and Protection of Standard (1907). 

Signalling Systems Used for the Transmission of Sig¬ 
nals Affecting the Fire Hazard (1907). 

Skylights (1906). 

Sprinklers: 

Sprinkler Equipments, Automatic and Open (1905). 

List of Approved Automatic Sprinklers (March, 1907). 
List of Approved Dry Pipe Valves for use in Connection 
with Automatic Sprinkler Equipments (April 15, 1902). 
Uniform Requirements: 

“Slow Burning” Construction, “Inferior” Construc¬ 
tion, General Hazards, Oil Rooms, General Provisions, 
Stairway and Elevator Closures, Watchmen, Thermo¬ 
stats and Miscellaneous Matter (1906). 

Waste Cans, Ash Cans, Refuse Barrels, Fire Pails and 
Safety Cans for Benzene and Gasolene (1903). 
Wired Glass and the Construction of Frames for Wired 
and Prism Glass used as a Fire Retardant (1906). 
List of Approved Metallic Window Frames for Wired Glass 
(December, 1907). 

Watchmen’s Time Recording Apparatus, List of Approved. 
(April, 1908). 

SOME DEFECTS AND THEIR REMEDIES. 

Steam pipes in contact with wood; cut away the wood and 
place ventilated iron guards between the pipes and the wood. 
Placing a piece of metal (without any ventilation) between 
the pipe and wood is only a makeshift, as the metal becomes 
as hot as the pipe and the same heated condition is then pre¬ 
sented at this place. Steam pipes passing through floors should 


33 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


be held by iron guards of conical form in two sections, free 
from contact with the floors; the guards will also prevent 
rubbish, sweepings, etc., from collecting between the pipes and 
floors. 

Ashes; remove from stoves in metal cans; should not be kept 
inside of buildings; where kept inside of building should be 
thoroughly wet down and spread out and when cold placed in 
metal cans; 

Oily waste, paint and oil rags; when not in actual use should 
be kept in standard oily waste cans which are of metal, un¬ 
soldered, stand on metal legs and have covers kept closed by 
springs. 

Sidewalk openings to basements should have wire netting 
covering to prevent lighted cigars, cigarettes and matches 
from falling into the building, or on any collection of rubbish 
which may be in such places; such places should be regularly 
and carefully cleaned out. 

Floor sweepings should be kept outside of buildings where 
possible, otherwise in metal.cans; never in wooden receptacles, 
they are apt to contain spontaneously ignitable materials. 

Matches should preferably be kept in non-combustible re¬ 
ceptacles; in quantities should not be piled on shelving. 

Annealing Furnaces, Galvanizing Furnaces, Japanning Fur¬ 
naces, Bake Ovens, Pyrites and Sulphur Furnaces, Coffee 
Roasting Furnaces, Boilers, Cupolas, Smelting Furnaces, Glory- 
holes, Heaters, Core Ovens, Converters, should all be surrounded 
on sides and tops with good ventilating spaces between them 
and all wood or other inflammable materials. 

Metal Stacks from boilers, high degree heat furnaces and 
ovens passing through roofs should have a clear space equal to 
one-half of their diameter between them and any wood; the 
opening through the roof around the stack can be covered by a 
metal hood. 

Buffing, Polishing, fibre from wheels should be blown or 
exhausted through metal pipes into outside fire-proof closet 
or into receptacles filled with water. 

Brazing, Tinsmith Furnaces, Soldering Furnaces, should 
stand on incombustible materials and have free ventilating air 
space between them and all woodwork. 

Forges should be on incombustible floors, or if on wooden 
floors the flooring should be covered with sheet metal extending 
at least four feet around the forges. 

Cooking Ranges in kitchens of Hotels and Restaurants 
should have, metal hoods and metal ventilating pipes above 
them. 


34 


USEFUL INFORMATION. 


Stoves should stand on metal and asbestos shields or be 
raised on bricks or some similar substances so as to give good 
ventilating space beneath; all woodwork exposed should be 
protected by a metal shield with ventilating space on each side. 

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. 

The following materials and combinations are subject to 
spontaneous combustion, and while they may not always evolve 
sufficient heat in themselves to produce combustion in them¬ 
selves, inflammable materials exposed may be set afire : Oily 
cotton waste when not actually saturated, for when saturated 
the physical and chemical actions producing combustion are 
eliminated, hence when cotton waste is thoroughly saturated 
with oil the liability to spontaneous combustion is practically 
removed; Jute, Hemp, Tow, Flax and many Cotton and 
Woolen articles when partly impregnated with oil and left in 
piles; Oily metal cuttings and filings in a pile with the addition 
of a comparatively small quantity of water; Strong nitric and 
sulphuric acid on wool and straw; Board scrapings in tanneries 
when in piles; Fleshings in tanneries when in piles; Empty 
nitrate of soda bags in piles when subject to any moisture; 
Press cloths in rendering, soap, butterine, etc., factories when 
in piles; Oiled silk, oily leather cuttings and scrapings, oily 
waterproof clothing and oily overalls in piles; Piles of fish 
scrap with moisture; Unslaked lime; Piles of green hone, lamp¬ 
black in large or small quantities, hay, cotton, woody fibre, 
rags, leaves, coal, spent tan, cocoanut fibre, tow on a rosin 
barrel, when sufficient moisture is in combination and they are 
left lying undisturbed; Sodium; Phosphorus; Many organic 
substances. 

GENERAL APPLIANCES IN ORDINARY USE FOR THE 
EXTINGUISHMENT OF FIRES. 

Common salt for soot fires in chimneys and flues; should be 
thrown down from the top; the burning of the salt produces 
muriatic acid gas, which extinguishes the fire. 

Sand in pails for the extinguishment of oil, rubber cement 
and similar fires which cannot be readily put out by water; 
sand thrown upon the fire smothers it. 

Blankets for the same class of fires as those where sand is of 
value; the blanket should be thrown completely over the fire. 

Steam jets are of value in spaces that can be tightly closed, 
but in rooms where there are openings the steam would create 


35 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


drafts, which same should always be avoided at the location of 
a fire. 

Fire pails and casks full of water are the most handy and are 
most liable to be used as extinguishers, for even the person with 
the least intelligence will throw water on a fire to extinguish 
it. At least six fire pails, or three fire pails and one fire cask, 
should be placed for every 2,500 superficial feet of floor area; 
they should be put wh .re they are in full sight and always easy 
of access. 

Chemical Extinguishers of approved type, but with these 
it is necessary that the employees be instructed as to the opera¬ 
tion of them. 

Automatic Sprinklers, Pumps, Standpipes, Hose, Open 
Sprinklers, Ladders, Axes, Crowbars, but Dry Powder Ex¬ 
tinguishers and other unapproved appliances should not be 
advised or recognized. 

Approved Automatic Sprinklers: Grinnell Improved, 1905; 
International, Issue B; Manufacturers’, Issue C; Neracher 
Improved, 1902; Niagara-Hibbard, Issue B, 1904; Phoenix, 
Issue A, 1905; Rockwood, Issue A. 

Approved Dry Pipe Valves for use in connection with auto¬ 
matic sprinkler equipments: Evans; Grinnell; Manufacturers. 

STATES HAVING A STANDARD POLICY LAW. 

California, Connecticut, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachu¬ 
setts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New 
Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode 
Island, South Dakota, Wisconsin. 

STATES HAVING A RESIDENT AGENTS LAW. 

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Deb 
aware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michi¬ 
gan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, 
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North 
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsyl¬ 
vania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, 
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, 
Wisconsin, Wyoming. 

STATES HAVING A VALUED POLICY LAW. 

Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, 


36 


USEFUL INFORMATION. 


New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina. 
South Dakota, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, 


STATES HAVING A FIRE MARSHAL LAW. 

Connecticut, Illinois Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin. 


FIRE UNDERWRITING PROFITS AND LOSSES. 

A summarization of the underwriting transactions of sixty 
millionaire fire insurance companies, for the decade ending 
with 1907, shows that their net premiums aggregated $1,438,- 
228,508, their net losses reached a total of $872,666,725, and 
their expenses amounted to $521,720,785, while their liabil¬ 
ities were increased by the sum of $95,045,541, thus indicating 
that the net result of their underwriting operations for ten 
years was a loss of $5*1,204,543, or 3.56 per cent of premiums. 
Expressed in percentages of premiums the requirements of the 
business were as follows: 

Per Cent. 


Losses. 60.68 

Expenses. 36.28 

Increase in liabilities. 6.60 


Total 


103.56 


It is clear from the foregoing statistics that, notwithstand¬ 
ing the receipt by the sixty companies of about $1,438,000,000 
of premiums (in consideration for the acceptance of many 
billions of dollars of risks), the final result is a net underwriting 
loss of over $51,000,000. 

During the decade in question, there occurred the great San 
Francisco conflagration. 

Even if we revert to the decade ending with 1905, thus ex¬ 
cluding the tremendous conflagration losses of 1906, it is found 
that ten years’ work yielded a profit of less than three per 
cent. In this connection it may be said that few, if any, of 
these prominent companies have drawn a dollar from their 
underwriting receipts in the last ten years in order to pay 
dividends to their stockholders; on the other hand, not only 
have their dividends been paid from their investment earnings, 
but the latter have contributed many millions of dollars to 
help pay San Francisco and other policyholders for losses in¬ 
curred under their policies. In addition, the insurance com¬ 
panies’ stockholders have been called upon to pay in scores 
of millions of dollars wherewith to pay losses. 

Fire insurance is, theoretically, a self-sustaining business— 
the premiums should meet all the requirements of the cur¬ 
rent business in normal times, provide a surplus fund for the 
emergencies which are sure to arise, and yield a reasonable 
profit to the stockholders who guarantee the policies with their 


37 







SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


own invested funds (and also, following great conflagrations, 
by further contributions). Policyholders are, or should be, 
interested in the strength and solvency of the companies in 
which they are insured, and should be willing to pay, without 
demur, such premium rates as are found necessary to bring 
about the results mentioned. 

However freely some business men may criticise the rates 
charged for fire insurance, as being unduly high, we are of 
the opinion that* few of the critics would care to risk their 
own capital in a business in which the entire investment;—and 
perhaps several times as much in addition—may be swept 
away overnight !—(The Spectator , May 14 , 1908 .) 


4 


88 


PART TWO 


PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT OF INSUR¬ 
ANCE APPLICABLE BEFORE A FIRE. 


It is not the quantity hut the quality of knowledge that is valuable. 

In the following explanatory paragraphs the New York 
Standard Fire Insurance Policy has been taken as the contract, 
and all references are to that contract. For States having a 
Standard Policy see page 36. 

In consideration of certain specified stipulations’ and a money 
consideration a policy is issued by a company to insure a person, 
corporation, firm, etc., against all direct loss and damage by fire 
on designated property in one specific location; it is not an 
instrument insuring property of any kind or class; the insured 
is insured against any direct loss and damage which may accrue 
to the specified property. 

The stipulation making the premium an integral part of the 
consideration under which the policy is issued must not be taken 
too seriously, for it is not of much value, inasmuch as the courts 
generally have held that the actual paying of the premium is 
not a necessary precedent to the binding of an insurance con¬ 
tract and the validity of a fire insurance policy is not affected 
by the non-payment of the premium unless the company takes 
up the policy for the non-payment of the premium, but as long 
as the policy is left in the hands of the insured the contract is 
in full effect even though the premium has not been paid. 

“This Policy is Made and Accepted Subject to the 
“Foregoing Stipulations and Conditions, together with 
“such other provisions, agreements, or conditions as may be 
“indorsed hereon or added hereto, and no officer, agent, or 
“other representative of this company shall have power to 
“waive any provision or condition of this policy except such 


39 




SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


“as by the terms of this policy may be the subject or agreement 
“indorsed hereon or added hereto, and as to such provisions 
“and conditions no officer, agent, or representative shall have 
“such power or be deemed or held to have waived such pro¬ 
visions or conditions unless such waiver, if any, shall be written 
“upon or attached hereto, nor shall any privilege or permission 
“affecting the insurance under this policy exist or be claimed 
“by the insured unless so written or attached.” While this is 
a very plain and explicit provision, yet as jurists and jurors are 
of a variable quantity and quality, and a corporation is always 
a good subject for the purpose of prosecution, especially for 
money recovery whether the claims are just or otherwise, dis¬ 
cretion and care in steering clear of anything which might have 
even the least appearance of a waiver of any of the provisions 
of the policy, or the permission for anything not clearly written 
or attached to the policy is certainly advisable; this covers any 
written or spoken word which could in any way be twisted or 
construed as bearing upon the waiving of any of the provisions 
or conditions of the policy by the company, or upon the granting 
of any permission, or the agreeing to anything other than which 
actually and explicitly appears upon the policy. 

Direct Loss or Damage by Fire, meaning immediate or 
proximate, as distinguished from remote; but water thrown 
upon property during a fire, or smoke produced by a fire damag¬ 
ing property, are each direct causes of loss or damage although 
no actual fire has attacked the property itself, but water put on 
an overheated ceiling or woodwork at a stove or any other 
place where overheating has occurred, or the overheating of 
wool in consequence of being water-soaked, or smoke or soot 
from a smoking lamp or oil stove, or overheating of a heating 
apparatus damaging stock in or on an apparatus used for the 
specific purpose of heating the stock (as loss to sugar by the 
heat of the usual fire used in refining on account of the care¬ 
lessness of employees, or the overdrying of lumber in a kiln, or 
the destruction of a beefsteak when placed on a stove for cooking, 
etc.) cannot be designated as direct loss or damage by fire within 
the implied meaning of the policy. 

WHAT WILL VOID A POLICY. 

No one is so wise that he cannot become wiser. 

“If the Insured has Concealed or Misrepresented, in 
“writing or otherwise, any material fact or circumstance con¬ 
cerning this insurance or the subject thereof.” On certain 
classes of risks certain companies require applications signed 


40 


PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


by the insured, and if an application be referred to in a policy, 
that application becomes a part of this contract and a warranty 
by the insured , hence any concealment or misrepresentation cn 
such an application will void the policy, but the burden of 
proof as to the concealment or misrepresentation will rest with 
the company. A claim of verbal concealment or misrepre¬ 
sentation is difficult to prove unless witnesses are available, as 
the insured is in a position to “explain away” the meaning 
understood by the agent or representative of the company and 
his explanation will have much more weight with a jury than 
the evidence of the representative of the company. See page 49, 
if any application , survey , plan , or description, etc. 

If the Interest of the Insured in the Property be not 
Truly Stated. While the basis of the contract is the insuring 
of the owner of the property, in fee simple or absolute ownership, 
still it is recognized that there are other interests which are 
proper subjects for insurance; in covering these interests none 
of the conditions in the policy should be waived in favor of these 
interests, and the character of such an interest should be ex¬ 
plicitly stated upon the policy notwithstanding that the policy 
specifically allows the insurance of other interests than fee 
simple or absolute ownership by agreement indorsed upon the 
policy without requiring any statement as to what the interest 
may be. Many large corporations doing a loaning business on 
real estate have their own mortgage forms, which are so worded 
as to relieve them from all operations of the voidance clauses 
of the policy, and while this is wrong in principle, yet it is 
allowed by the companies generally on account of the volume 
of business placed by these loaning corporations, hence the 
acceptance of such a mortgage clause is for the consideration of 
each company. See page 43, if the interest of the insured be 
other than unconditional or sole, also page 58, mortgage and 
other interests. 

Show me a liar and I’ll show you a thief. 

“In Case of any Fraud or False Swearing by the insured 
“touching any matter relating to this insurance or the subject 
“thereof, whether before or after a loss.” The intent of the 
provision prior to a fire is to provide the company with desired 
information, which information as given by the insured can be 
relied upon as being correct, otherwise the policy is void. In¬ 
formation given by an insured as to when an inventory was 
taken, the amount of stock on hand, his interest in the property, 
etc., are subjects for investigation, but on the side of the com- 


4i 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


pany witnesses are very necessary if any claim of fraud is made 
against the insured. 


WHAT WILL VOID A POLICY UNLESS OTHERWISE 
PROVIDED BY AGREEMENT INDORSED THEREON. 

If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it from 
him. 

In order to preclude the voidance of a policy by non-com¬ 
pliance with any of the following provisions, permission for the 
non-compliance with any of the provisions or conditions or for 
privileges granted must be indorsed on the policy or added 
thereto; hence verbal permission is not binding, but it is a dan¬ 
gerous thing to give, for how far the permission will be inter¬ 
preted to reach and what construction will be placed upon such 
verbal permission by the courts is much of a question, but it 
can be taken for a fact that in case of any cohtroversy over any 
such a question the company will be the loser. Care should 
therefore be exercised to have every permission, agreement and 
privilege so worded as to mean only just what it is intended 
to mean and to see that such permission, agreement or privilege 
is indorsed on or added to the policy. 

“If the Insured now Has or Shall Hereinafter Make 
“or Procure any Other Contract of Insurance, whether 
“valid or not, on property covered in whole or in part by this 
“policy." Over-insurance can be prevented by this, hence 
a moral hazard averted. Where other insurance is advisable, 
desirable or needful it is therefore necessary to grant permission 
for such upon the policy; in granting the permission it should 
be stipulated that the other insurance shall be concurrent, then 
all policies will read alike and all companies will cover alike the 
best as well as the worst part of a risk and all losses will be 
adjusted on the same basis. The concurrency covers on the 
property covered, where the various parts of the property are 
placed, i. e., under which items of the policy, and the propor- 
tionment of the amount carried under the different items, for 
the contract as pertaining to the property covered primarily 
appertains to the property and not to any particular clause 
governing the amount of insurance required, or the limitation 
of the amount which may be carried, or permission for any 
particular lighting or heating device. 

“If the Subject of Insurance be a Manufacturing 
“Establishment and it be operated in whole or in part at 
“night later than ten o'clock, or if it cease to be operated for 


42 


PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


"more than ten consecutive days." This is a self-explanatory 
provision. 

“If the Hazards be Increased by any Means within the 
“control or knowledge of the insured.” While it is generally 
held that anything that the agent of a company sees or is con¬ 
versant with is knowledge of the company to such a condition 
or fact, it is not so held as far as the insured is concerned, and 
it is a rather difficult thing to show that an insured who is the 
owner of a building is conversant with a condition which a 
tenant may bring about in the building, notwithstanding that 
it may be morally certain that he was fully informed on the 
condition. An agent must be able to positively say whether 
he was conversant with a condition which under the terms of 
the policy rendered the policy void, and where he becomes 
cognizant of such a condition he must act upon his knowledge 
by canceling the policy, demanding an increased rate, demand¬ 
ing the removal of the condition or immediately informing his 
company as to the condition and asking for instructions from 
them as to what action to take. 

“If Mechanics be Employed in Building, altering or 
“repairing the within described premises for more than fifteen 
“days at a time.” It is the rule to give permission to make 
alterations and repairs, but the word “ordinary” is frequently 
left out of this clause, and it has been held by courts that very 
extensive additions which have been made to buildings are 
only alterations of the premises and permitted and covered by 
the permission granted; by adding the limiting word “ordinary” 
the company has some protection against such an interpre¬ 
tation of the permission; the word should appear in the Mechan¬ 
ics' Permission clause before the words “alterations and repairs.” 

“If the Interests of the Insured be Other than Un- 
“conditional or sole ownership.” In order to protect the 
company against possible over-insurance where several insurable 
interests exist in a property, the interests of all parties should 
be combined for the purpose of insurance; the individual in¬ 
terests can be mentioned by indorsement on the policy or as 
parties to the contract, as the taking out of insurance by each 
party having an insurable interest in the property would or¬ 
dinarily result in over-insurance. Where the property insured 
is an undivided estate the insurance can be taken out in the 
name of the heirs, each being named, or in the name of the 
executors; where there is a life interest to one person in an estate 
the policy can be issued jointly to the holder of the deed and 
the person having the interest, or to the holder of the ultimate 
title with loss payable to the holder of the life interest, or to 


43 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 

the holder of the ultimate title with a provision that any in¬ 
surance money paid for loss or damage shall be used only for 
the repairs or restoration of the property, this latter way being 
the best. See page 41, if the interest of the insured in the prop¬ 
erty he not truly stated; also page 58, mortgage and other interests. 

“If the Subject of Insurance be a Building on Ground 
“not Owned by the Insured in Fee Simple.” A building 
erected on ground not owned by the insured and without per¬ 
mission of the owner of the ground is practically uninsurable 
for the simple reason that the owner of the building can be 
forced at a moment’s notice to vacate or the building can be 
torn down, hence the value of the building for insurable purposes 
is actually nil and the moral hazard is decidedly bad. Ground 
leases with a short time to run either tend to produce a bad 
moral hazard, or at least a largely increased depreciation of 
the value of the building thereon, for at the expiration of the 
lease the building reverts to the owner of the ground or it must 
be removed from its location, and in either case the owner of 
the building does not care to make any outlay for maintenance 
of the building and a fire would be a profitable investment for 
the insured and an expensive experience for the company. A 
lease with a long period of time before expiration, especially 
where the building is a good one and the location good for the 
purposes of the building, will not act against the insurable 
conditions. The period of time a lease has to run should be 
noted on the daily report. 

“If the Subject of Insurance be Personal Property 
“and be or become incumbered by a chattel mortgage.” A 
chattel mortgage may be on account of a bad moral hazard, 
or it may produce a bad moral hazard on account of the mort¬ 
gagee being unable to discharge it, still there are to-day on ac¬ 
count of the “installment houses” many chattel mortgages 
which are perfectly good and produce anything but a bad 
moral hazard; whether a policy should be written covering on 
property carrying a chattel mortgage is a matter for close in¬ 
vestigation and usually should be referred to the company, but 
where an agent is satisfied that the insured is perfectly good 
and the chattel mortgage does not in any way affect the insur¬ 
ance, then the facts should be stated on the daily report. 

“If, with the Knowledge of the Insured, Foreclosure 
“Proceedings be commenced or notice given of sale of any 
“property covered by this policy by virtue of any mortgage 
“or trust deed.” This is very explicit and is binding. 


44 


PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


Dying is as natural as living. 

"If any Change, Other than by the Death of the insured, 
“take place in the interest, title, or possession of the subject of 
"insurance (except* change of occupants without increase of 
"hazard), whether by legal process or judgment or by voluntary 
"act of the insured, or otherwise.” This prevents the transfer 
of a policy from one person or insured to another without the 
knowledge of the company, for if transfer of interest were made 
and the policy could simply be handed over to the new owner 
without notice to the company and permission for the transfer 
of the interest, then a company might be, unknown to itself, 
insuring persons whom .they knew to be especially bad moral 
hazards and whom they would not insure knowingly. On the 
back of a policy will be found a blank to be filled in by the 
insured if he desires a transfer of interest and one to be filled 
in by the company granting permission for the transfer of in¬ 
terest. An increase of hazard is a very essential thing that a 
company should have information of, for the increase might 
bring about a condition where the company would not carry 
the risk, or where the hazard involved should pay an increased 
rate, hence the company must be notified of any such increase 
of hazard. 

When the devil finds the door shut he goes away. 

"If this Policy be Assigned Before a Loss." This is to 
prevent fraud not only upon the company but also upon the 
legal creditors of the insured, for the assignment of the policy 
might so act as to indirectly protect the insured who might be 
a debtor and a particularly bad moral hazard. 

There is no man so wise he does not slip sometimes. 

"If Illuminating Gas or Vapor be Generated in the 
"described building (or adjacent thereto) for use therein." 
This covers not only the generation of coal gas on a large or 
small scale, but also the generation of acetylene gas, gasolene 
gas, coal oil gas, or the vapors therefrom, or of any illuminating 
gas whatever, whether in machines, lighting systems having 
outside tanks and inside flame heated generators, suction gas 
producers, vapor lamps, etc., etc., and not only does this pro¬ 
hibit such generation within the building but also adjacent 
thereto for use therein , hence endorsement is necessary for the 
production of any illuminating gas under these conditions 
and the forms generally provided for such permission require 
the name of the machine or system and the place of manufac¬ 
ture; under the Rules and Regulations of the National Board 


45 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


of Fire Underwriters the name and place of manufacture are 
placed upon the machine or lamp. 

Danger and delight grow on one stock. 

“If (any usage or custom of trade or manufacture to the 
“contrary notwithstanding) there be Kept, Used, or Al- 
“ lowed on the Above Described Premises, Benzine, Benzole, 
“Dynamite, Ether, Fireworks, Gasolene, Greek Fire, Gun- 
“powder exceeding twenty-five pounds in quantity; Naphtha, 
“ Nitro-Glycerine or other explosives; Phosphorus, or Petroleum, 
“or any of its products of greater inflammability than Kero¬ 
sene Oil of the United States Standard (which last may be 
' ‘ used for lights and kept for sale according to law but in quanti¬ 
fies not exceeding five barrels, providing it be drawn and 
“lamps filled by daylight or at a distance not less than ten feet 
“from artificial light)." This is a very sweeping voidance, but 
custom ordains that in many respects it be and is not insisted 
upon or taken advantage of by the companies, and this has 
tended to produce legal decisions which, while contrary to the 
technical reading of the clause, become binding upon the com¬ 
panies, but these facts do not warrant an agent in ignoring any 
of the provisions of the clause or of its restrictions. It is well 
known that almost every dwelling as a rule contains more or 
less naphtha or gasolene for use in cleaning clothing, etc., for 
illuminating and heating purposes without any permit for the 
same, that drug stores handle and keep and sell phosphorus, 
benzine, benzole, ethers, without permit, that paint stores and 
hardware stores carry and sell naphtha and benzine without 
permission, and yet companies pay losses on such properties 
without any question as to these voiding restrictions and con¬ 
ditions, and if payment were refused and the matter were taken 
up to the courts there is no reason to believe that under the 
ordinary existing conditions as to use and quantity that the 
companies would lose out and the insured win the case, simply 
on the basis of custom and usage, therefore is it particularly 
needful that the local agent look into the amount of such 
materials carried in the various risks. A particularly pernicious 
form of endorsement has crept into use giving permission to 
“keep on hand such articles as are incidental to the manufacture 
of their product," or to the “conduct of their business"; this 
form of permission permits the use and handling of any of the 
above prohibited articles without regard to quantity or re¬ 
strictions of any kind; also, endorsements are placed upon 
policies, or the original form is made to read to permit the 
handling and sale of such “things as are usually kept in a 


4 6 


PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


(general, drug, paint, etc., etc.) store” without any restric¬ 
tions as to quantity, care or handling, and it will be found that 
what is “usual” to any one class of store in one section of the 
country is not * * usual ’ ’ to the same class of store in another 
section of the country, so this permit will cover gasolene, 
naphtha, ethers, gunpowder, dynamite and all the other pro¬ 
hibited articles, granting permission in this way so that any such 
articles can be kept, sold and handled in any quantity and under 
any conditions. 

“If a Building Herein Described, whether Intended 
“for Occupancy by Owner or Tenant, Be or Become 
“Vacant or unoccupied and so remain for ten days.” De¬ 
cisions by courts on this point as to what it is intended to mean 
have been various, some courts holding that increased hazard 
must be shown to exist, others believing that this point has no 
reference to the question involved, others that the building 
must be both vacant and unoccupied, but a common-sense 
interpretation of the. provision is the one to be looked for and 
accepted, and so if it is found that a building is or is to be vacant 
or unoccupied a proper endorsement should be attached to the 
policy or the policy taken up and canceled. Vacant and un¬ 
occupied buildings without prospects of early occupancy be¬ 
come non-productive investments, and non-productive invest¬ 
ments are bad moral hazards. 

It is provided that a policy can be renewed under the original 
stipulations , but that the policy will be void unless any increase 
of hazard shall be made known to this company at the time of 
renewal. This protects the company from an insured merely 
asking for the renewal of a policy and stating that there is no 
change, for his statement that there is no change carries with 
it the assumption that there is no increase of hazard, and if an 
increase is found after the renewal is issued the policy of itself 
becomes void. 

WHEN A COMPANY IS NOT LIABLE FOR LOSS. 

It is a poor rule that will not work both ways. 

“For Loss Caused Directly or Indirectly by Invasion, 
“insurrection, riot, civil war or commotion, or military or 
“usurped power, or by order of any civil authority.” Military 
and civil authority in the ordering of the removal of salvage 
when in the interest of a community is as a rule recognized as 
not removing the liability of a company under a loss, but the 
question of necessity can be demanded and will have to be 
shown by the authority in any case of claimed necessity if a 


47 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


company desires to make such a demand, but this is entirely a 
question for the officials of a company to determine. 

“Or by Theft." This is a question only arising after a fire. 

“Or by Neglect of the Insured to use all reasonable 
“means to save and preserve the property at and after a fire or 
“when the property is endangered by fire in neighboring prem¬ 
ises, or (unless fire ensues, and in that event, for the damage 
“by fire only) by explosion of any kind, or lightning, but 
“liability for direct damage by lightning may be assumed by 
“specific agreement hereon.” The first part of this paragraph 
pertains to conditions arising at the time of or after a fire. 
Lightning liability is universally assumed by companies, the 
proper Lightning Clause being attached to the policy. 

“If a Building or any Part Thereof Fall, except as the 
“result of fire, all insurance by this policy on such building or 
“its contents shall immediately cease," . This is a provision 
involving much litigation and pertains to the officials of a 
company and has no place in the actions of a special or local 
agent and any such condition arising or supposed to have arisen 
should not be talked over or in any way discussed with the 
insured. 


WHAT A COMPANY IS NOT LIABLE FOR. 

“This Company Shall Not be Liable for loss to accounts, 
“bills, currency, deeds, evidences of debt, money, notes, or 
“securities; nor, unless liability is specifically assumed thereon, 
“for loss to awnings, bullion, casts, curiosities, drawings, dies, 
“implements, jewels, manuscripts, medals, models, patterns, 
“pictures, scientific apparatus, signs, store or office furniture 
“or fixtures, sculpture, tools, or property held on storage or 
“for repairs, nor beyond the actual value destroyed by fire, 
“for loss occasioned by ordinance or law regulating construc¬ 
tion or repair of buildings, or by interruption of business, 
“manufacturing processes, or otherwise; nor for any greater 
41 proportion of the value of plate glass, frescoes, and decora¬ 
tions than that which this policy shall bear to the whole 
4 ‘insurance on the building described.” This whole paragraph 
is very clear and explicit and no interpretation is needed. It is 
a usual thing to incorporate the Signs, Awnings in the Building, 
or Furniture and Fixture items of a policy. Curiosities , Medals 
should be specifically insured with a limit clause (if possible) 
as to value of any one specimen and a schedule of the property 
insured should (if obtainable) be attached to the policy or be¬ 
come a warranty as to the specific articles insured. Dies, 
Patterns, Models should be specifically insured. Store and 


48 


PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


Office Furniture or Fixtures should be specifically insured but 
are often included in the Machinery item. Implements, Tools 
are usually placed in the Machinery item. Pictures “at not 
exceeding cost” are usually included in the Household Furniture 
item. By Interruption of Business, Manufacturing Processes 
are covered by Rent, and Use and Occupancy insurance. 

“If any Application, Survey, Plan, or Description of 
“Property be referred to in this policy it shall be a part of this 
“contract and a warranty by the insured.” This is self-ex¬ 
planatory; frequently an Application, or a plan, and always 
some Description of Property is referred to in a policy, and it 
is incumbent upon the insured to see that these things are 
correct, otherwise the Application, Description or other matter 
being incorrect the policy becomes void. See Page 40, if 
the insured has concealed. 

WHEN THE LIABILITY UNDER A POLICY FOLLOWS 

THE PROPERTY COVERED TO ANOTHER LOCATION 
AUTOMATICALLY. 

“If Property Covered by this Policy is so endangered by 
“ fire as to require removal to a place of safety, and is so removed, 
“that part of this policy in excess of its proportion of any loss 
“ and of the value of property remaining in the original location, 
“shall, for the ensuing five days only, cover the property so 
“removed in the new location; if removed to more than one 
“location, such excess of this policy shall cover therein for such 
‘ ‘ five days in the proportion that the value in any one such new 
“location bears to the value in all such new locations; but this 
“company shall not, in any case of removal, whether to one or 
“more locations, be liable beyond the proportion that the 
“amount hereby insured shall bear to the total insurance on 
“the whole property at the time of fire, whether the same cover 
“in new location or not.” This is self-explanatory and is in 
the interest of the insured, but at the same time tends to improve 
conditions for the companies, for such removal protects the 
property to at least a very great extent from accumulative 
damage. 

CANCELLATION OF POLICY. 

One ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit. 

“This Policy Shall be Canceled at any time at the request 
“of the insured; or by the company by giving five days’ notice 
“of such cancellation. If this policy shall be canceled as here- 
“inbefore provided, or become void or cease, the premium 


49 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


“having been actually paid, the unearned portion shall be 
“returned on surrender of this policy or last renewal, this 
“company retaining the customary short rate; except that when 
“this policy is canceled by this company by giving notice it 
“shall retain only the pro rata premium.” It is not necessary 
to give an insured any reason for a cancellation, but it is wise 
to give the local agent the reason for such an order, especially 
if it is a very good reason, for in this way the local agent will see 
that the cancellation is for cause and not merely as an arbitrary 
act; many local agents seem to believe that many cancellations 
are made by special agents just that they may show their 
authority and to impress their companies that they are doing 
their work carefully, and such local agents should have any 
such ideas dispelled by explanation for called-for cancellations; 
sometimes it is not exactly advisable to give the reason for a 
required cancellation, then diplomacy must be used to satisfy 
the local agent in the matter. To cancel a policy is not in itself 
an indication of insurance business perspicacity, rather is 
judgment, discernment and knowledge shown in knowing what 
not to cancel. 

An insured canceling a policy is charged the short rate pre¬ 
mium. See Short Rate Table following. 

A company canceling a policy can only charge the pro rata 
premium. 

To properly effect a cancellation where the insured is disin¬ 
clined to surrender the policy (especially) or otherwise, the 
unearned pro rata premium in legal tender currency (not draft, 
check, money order, postage stamps) should be tendered him 
in the presence of reliable witnesses; no receipt should be asked 
for, the request for a receipt impairs the tender of the return 
premium. Where it is impossible to reach the insured per¬ 
sonally, then a letter serving notice of the determination of the 
company to cancel the policy in accordance with the terms of 
the policy and enclosing the exact return premium in legal tender 
currency should be sent to the insured by registered mail or 
express, but all enclosures and the sealing of the envelope 
containing them should be examined and witnessed by one or 
more persons who if necessary would be competent to act as 
witnesses. The question of the necessity of the tender of the 
return premium is an undecided one as yet, some courts holding 
it as a condition precedent to cancellation, others holding the 
contrary view; so to be on the safe side the tender of the return 
premium in legal tender currency is advisable. 

In case of a policy being made payable to a mortgagee, 
cancellation notice should be served on him by registered mail 


50 


PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


or in person at the same time the insured is notified of the can¬ 
cellation. 

Cancellation on account of non-payment of premium should 
be accompanied with a demand for the amount of the earned 
premium. 

An agent not complying with a company’s instruction re¬ 
garding the cancellation of a policy, or not acting in the matter 
with due diligence, renders himself liable for any loss or damage 
which may accrue against the policy on account of his non- 
compliance with the instructions given. 

A bad moral hazard is the very best of reasons for a cancel¬ 
lation. An insured who will not improve his plant when a 
hazardous condition is pointed out to him should have his 
policy canceled; he is or will become a bad moral hazard. 

A bad physical risk, while with some companies subject to 
consideration on the basis of the rate obtainable, is as a general 
proposition a good reason for ordering a cancellation. 

A bad form which the insured refuses to correct is a good 
ground for cancellation. 

An inadequate rate is a good reason to base a cancellation on. 


STANDARD SHORT RATE SCALE. 

FOR COMPUTING PREMIUM FOR TERMS LESS THAN ONE YEAR. 

AS ADOPTED BY THE “ WESTERN UNION.” 

Rule. —Take the percentage indicated in scale opposite the 
number of days risk is to run, on the premium for one year at 
given rate, and the result will be the premium earned in case of 
cancellation, or to be charged in case of short risks. 


TARIFF OR RATES FOR FIRE INSURANCE FOR PERIODS LESS THAN 

ONE YEAR. 


1 day. 

2 days 

3 days 

4 days 

5 days 

6 days 

7 days 

8 days 

9 days 

10 days 

11 days 

12 days 

13 days 

14 days 

15 days 

16 days 


2 % of the Annual 

4 % of the Annual 

5 % of the Annual 
6% of the Annual 
7 % of the Annual 
8% of the Annual 
9 % of 'the Annual 
9 % of the Annual 

10 % of the Annual 
10% of the Annual 

11 % of the Annual 
12% of the Annual 
13% of the Annual 

13 % of the Annual 

14 % of the Annual 
14 % of the Annual 


Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 

Premium. 


51 


















SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


17 days. 

18 days. 

19 days. 

20 days. 

25 days.. 

30 days. 

35 days. 

40 days. 

45 days. 

50 days. • 

55 days. 

60 days. 

65 days. 

70 days. 

75 days. 

80 days. 

85 days. 

90 days or 3 months. 

105 days. 

120 days or 4 months. 

135 days. 

150 days or 5 months. 

165 days. 

180 days or 6 months. 

195 days.. 

210 days or 7 months. 

225 days. 

240 days or 8 months. 

255 days. 

270 days or 9 months. 

285 days. 

300 days or 10 months 

3i5 days. 

330 days or n months 
360 days or 12 months 


15% of the Annual Premium. 
16% of the Annual Premium. 
16% of the Annual Premium. 
17% of the Annual Premium. 
19% of the Annual Premium. 
20% of the Annual Premium. 
23 % of the Annual Premium. 
26% of the Annual Premium. 
27% of the Annual Premium. 
28% of the Annual Premium. 
29% of the Annual Premium. 
30 % of the Annual Premium. 
33 % of the Annual Premium. 
36% of the Annual Premium. 
37% of the Annual Premium. 
38% of the Annual Premium. 
39% of the Annual Premium. 
40 % of the Annual Premium. 
45 % of the Annual Premium. 
50 % of the Annual Premium. 
55 % of the Annual Premium. 
60 % of the Annual Premium. 
65 % of the Annual Premium. 
70% of the Annual Premium. 
73 % of the Annual Premium. 
75 % of the Annual Premium. 
78% of the Annual Premium. 
80% of the Annual Premium. 
83% of the Annual Premium. 
85% of the Annual Premium. 
88% of the Annual Premium. 
90% of the Annual Premium. 
93 % of the Annual Premium. 
95 % of the Annual Premium. 
100% of the Annual Premium. 


SHORT RATES FOR TERM RISKS. 


THREE YEARS. 


For 3 months or less. 

Over 3 and not exceeding 6 months 
Over 6 and not exceeding 9 months 
Over 9 and not exceeding 12 months 
Over 12 and not exceeding 15 months 
Over 15 and not exceeding 18 months 
Over 18 and not exceeding 21 months 
Over 21 and not exceeding 24 months 
Over 24 and not exceeding 27 months 
Over 27 and not exceeding 30 months 
Over 30 and not exceeding 33 months 
Over 33 months.. 


20% of Term Premium. 
30% of Term Premium. 
40% of Term Premium. 
50% of Term Premium. 
60% of Term Premium. 
70% of Term Premium. 
75 % of Term Premium. 
80% of Term Premium. 
85 % of Term Premium. 
90% of Term Premium. 
95 % of Term Premium. 
100% of Term Premium. 


FOUR YEARS. 


For 4 months or less. 

Over 4 and not exceeding 8 months 
Over 8 and not exceeding 12 months 
Over 12 and not exceeding 16 months 
Over 16 and not exceeding 20 months 
Over 20 and not exceeding 24 months 


20% of Term Premium. 
30% of Term Premium. 
40% of Term Premium. 
50% of Term Premium. 
60 % of Term Premium. 
70% of Term Premium. 


52 























































PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


Over 24 and not exceeding 28 months 
Over 28 and not exceeding 32 months 
Over 32 and not exceeding 36 months 
Over 36 and not exceeding 40 months 
Over 40 and not exceeding 44 months 
Over 44 months. 


75 % of Term Premium 
80% of Term Premium 
85 % of Term Premium. 
90 % of Term Premium. 
95 % of Term Premium. 
100% of Term Premium. 


FIVE YEARS. 


For s months or less. 20% of Term Premium. 

Over 5 and not exceeding 10 months. 50% of Term Premium. 

Over 10 and not exceeding 15 months. 40% of Term Premium. 

Over 15 and not exceeding 20 months. 50% of Term Premium. 

Over 20 and not exceeding 25 months. 60% of Term Premium. 

Over 25 and not exceeding 30 months. 70% of Term Premium. 

Over 30 and not exceeding 35 months. 75% of Term Premium. 

Over 35 and not exceeding 40 months. 80% of Term Premium. 

Over 40 and not exceeding 45 months. 85% of Term Premium. 

Over 45 and not exceeding 50 months. 90% of Term Premium. 

Over 50 and not exceeding 55 months. 95% of Term Premium. 

Over ss months. 100% of Term Premium. 


SHORT RATE TABLE AND RULES GOVERNING SAME. 

AS ADOPTED BY THE NEW YORK FIRE INSURANCE EXCHANGE. 

All insurances for a term less than a year shall be charged 
according to the scale for periods less than one year, but insur¬ 
ance may be once renewed for the ratio of the premium required 
for the term for which the original policy or last renewal was 
made, provided the renewal is made within ten days from the 
expiration of the policy, and, provided the last preceding term 
was one year, or a term charged for according to the scale of 
insurance for less than a year. All insurance for a term less 
than one month shall be charged for the portion of a month, 
according to the short rate scale; but in no case shall this clause 
be so construed as to conflict with the following clause relating 
to cancellations, viz.: A policy may be canceled at any time 
at the request of the assured, in which case the company shall 
retain the customary short rate for the term the policy has 
been in force; but in all cases, except that of policies on contents 
of listed storage stores (also grain elevators) written for a 
month or more, fractional parts of a month shall be charged 
the full month’s premium; no return to be made on a policy 
written for a period less than one month. The intention of the 
above is ruled to be as follows, viz.; Policies on contents of 
listed storage stores can be canceled for less than one month 
at short rates for the fractional part of a month; but if both 
written and carried for more than one month, fractional parts 
of a month cannot be allowed for in cancellations. 




















SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK . 


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Annual Rate 

1 day. 

2 days. 

3 days. 

4 days. 

5 days. 

io days. 

15 days. 

20 days. 

1 month... 

2 months. . 

3 months. . 

4 months. . 

5 months. . 

6 months. . 

7 months. . 

8 months. . 

9 months. . 

10 months. . 

11 months. . 


54 











































































PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


CLEVELAND FIRE INSURANCE EXCHANGE CANCEL¬ 
LATION TABLE. 

PERCENTAGES EARNED OR TO BE CHARGED. 


Annual Policies—Short and Pro Rata Percentages. 


Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

Days. 

Short 

P.ate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

i 

2.10 


.28 

4i 

26.30 

11 

•23 

81 

38.85 

22.20 

2 

3-86 


• 55 

42 

26.58 

11 

•50 

82 

39- *3 

22.50 

3 

5-25 


.82 

43 

26.79 

11 

.80 

83 

39-34 

22.70 

4 

6.26 

1 

. 10 

44 

26.93 

12 

. 10 

84 

39-48 

23.00 

5 

7.00 

1 

•39 

45 

27.00 

12 

•3° 

85 

39-55 

23-3° 

6 

8.00 

1 

.64 

46 

27.50 

12 

.60 

86 

39-70 

23.60 

7 

8.80 

1 

.92 

47 

27.90 

12 

•9° 

87 

39.82 

23.80 

8 

9.40 

2 

•19 

48 

28.20 

13 

. 20 

88 

39 • 9 1 

24.10 

9 

9.80 

2 

•47 

49 

28.40 

13 

• 40 

89 

39-97 

24.40 

IO 

10.00 

2 

-74 

50 

28.50 

13 

•70 

90 

40.00 

24.70 

ii 

n-33 

3 

.01 

51 

28.85 

14 

.00 

9i 

40.33 

24.90 

12 

12.40 

3 

.23 

52 

29.13 

14 

.20 

92 

40.67 

25.20 

13 

13.20 

3 

•53 

53 

29-34 

14 

•50 

93 

41.00 

25-50 

14 

13-73 

3 

.84 

54 

29.48 

14 

.80 

94 

41.33 

25.80 

i5 

14.00 

4 

.11 

55 

29-55 

15 

. 10 

95 

41.67 

26.00 

16 

15.00 

4 

•39 

56 

29.70 

i5 

•30 

96 

42 .00 

26.30 

i7 

15.80 

4 

.69 

57 

29.82 

i5 

. 60 

97 

42-33 

26.60 

18 

16.40 

4 

•93 

58 

29.91 

15 

■9° 

98 

42.67 

26.80 

x 9 

16.80 

5 

. 20 

59 

29.97 

16 

.20 

99 

*43-00 

27.10 

20 

17.00 

5 

.48 

60 

30.00 

16 

40 

100 

43-33 

27.40 

21 

17.70 

5 

■ 75 

61 

3i-i7 

16 

■7° 

101 

43-67 

27.70 

22 

18.26 

6 

• J 3 

62 

32.10 

17 

.00 

102 

44.00 

27.90 

23 

18.68 

6 

•3° 

63 

32.80 

i7 

■30 

103 

44-33 

28.20 

24 

18.96 

6 

56 

64 

33-27 

i7 

•5° 

104 

44-67 

28.50 

25 

19.10 

6 

83 

65 

33-5° 

17 

.80 

io 5 

45.00 

28.80 

26 

19.40 

7. 

, 12 

66 

34.32 

18 

. 10 

106 

45-33 

29.00 

27 

19.64 

7 

40 

67 

34-97 

r8. 

.40 

107 

45-67 

29.30 

28 

19.82 

7- 

67 

68 

35-46 

18. 

.60 

108 

46.00 

29.60 

29 

19.94 

7. 

94 

69 

35-79 

18 

9° 

109 

46.33 

29.90 

3° 

20.00 

8. 

22 

70 

35-95 

19. 

.20 

no 

46.67 

30.10 

31 

21.17 

8. 

5° 

7i 

36-30 

19. 

50 

III 

47.00 

30.40 

3 2 

22.10 

8. 

77 

72 

36.58 

19 

70 

11 2 

47-33 

30.70 

33 

22.80 

9 

04 

73 

36.79 

20. 

,00 

”3 

47-67 

31.00 

34 

23.27 

9- 

3i 

74 

36.93 

20. 

30 

114 

48.00 

31.20 

35 

23-5° 

9- 

59 

75 

37.00 

JO. 

50 

”5 

48.33 

31-5° 

36 

24-32 

9 

86 

76 

37-50 

20. 

80 

116 

48.67 

3 1 -8o 

37 

24.97 

10. 

14 

77 

37-90 

21. 

10 

117 

49 .00 

32.10 

38 

25.46 

10. 

40 

78 

38.20 

21. 

40 

118 

49 33 

32-30 

39 

25-79 

10. 

70 

79 

38.40 

21. 

60 

119 

49.67 

32 .60 

40 

25-95 

10. 

96 

80 

38.50 

21. 

90 

120 

5000 

32.90 


55 























SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

121 

50-33 

33-20 

169 

66.33 

46.30 

217 

76.17 

59-50 

122 

50.67 

33-40 

170 

66.67 

46.60 

218 

76.34 

59 - 7 ° 

123 

51.00 

33-70 

171 

67.00 

46.80 

219 

76.50 

60.00 

124 

5 i -33 

34.00 

172 

67 33 

47 -io 

220 

76.67 

60.30 

125 

51-67 

34-20 

173 

67.67 

47.40 

221 

76.84 

60.50 

126 

52.00 

34.50 

i 74 

68.00 

47 - 7 ° 

222 

77.00 

60.80 

127 

52.33 

34.80 

i 75 

68.33 

4790 

223 

77 -i 7 

61.10 

128 

52.67 

35 -io 

176 

68.67 

48.20 

224 

77-34 

61.40 

129 

53-00 

35-30 

177 

69.00 

48.50 

225 

77 - 5 ° 

61.60 

130 

53-33 

35 -60 

178 

69 33 

48.80 

226 

77.67 

61.90 

131 

53-67 

35 - 9 ° 

179 

69.67 

49.00 

227 

77-84 

62.20 

132 

54.00 

36.20 

180 

70.00 

49-30 

228 

78.00 

62.50 

i 33 

54-33 

36.40 

181 

70.17 

49.60 

229 

78.17 

62.70 

i 34 

54-67 

36.70 

182 

70.34 

49 - 9 ° 

230 

78.34 

63.00 

135 

55-00 

37 -oo 

183 

70.50 

50.10 

231 

78.50 

63-30 

136 

55-33 

37 - 3 ® 

184 

70.67 

50.40 

232 

78.67 

63.60 

i 37 

55-67 

37 - 5 ° 

185 

70.84 

50.70 

233 

78.84 

63.80 

138 

56.00 

37.80 

186 

71.00 

51.00 

234 

79.00 

64.10 

i 39 

56.33 

38.10 

187 

71.17 

51.20 

235 

79.17 

64.40 

140 

56.67 

38.40 

188 

71-34 

5 1 • 5 ° 

236 

79-34 

6470 

141 

57-00 

38.60 

189 

7150 

51.80 

237 

79-50 

6490 

142 

57-33 

38.90 

190 

71.67 

52.10 

23 8 

79.67 

65.20 

1 43 

57-67 

39.20 

191 

71.84 

52.30 

239 

79.84 

65.5° 

144 

58.00 

39 - 5 ° 

192 

72.00 

52.60 

240 

80.00 

65.80 

MS 

58.33 

39-70 

i 93 

72.17 

52.90 

241 

80.17 

66.00 

146 

58.67 

40.00 

194 

72.34 

53-20 

242 

80.34 

66.30 

M 7 

59.00 

40.30 

J 95 

72.50 

53-40 

243 

80.50 

66.60 

148 

59-33 

40.50 

196 

72.67 

53-70 

244 

80.67 

66.80 

149 

59-67 

40.80 

197 

72.84 

54-00 

245 

80.84 

67.10 

150 

60.00 

41. xo 

198 

73.00 

54-20 

246 

81.00 

67.40 

iSi 

60.33 

41.40 

*99 

73-17 

54.50 

247 

81.17 

67.70 

J 52 

60.67 

41.60 

200 

73-34 

54.80 

248 

81.34 

67.90 

M 3 

61.00 

41.90 

201 

73 - 5 ° 

55 -io 

249 

81.50 

68.20 

iS 4 

6 i .33 

42.20 

202 

73 67 

55 - 3 ° 

250 

81.67 

68.50 

*55 

61.67 

42.50 

203 

73-84 

55 - 60 

251 

81.84 

68.80 


62.00 

42.70 

204 

74-00 

55 90 

252 

82.00 

69.00 

i 57 

6233 

43.00 

205 

74-17 

56.20 

253 

82.17 

69.30 

158 

62.67 

43-30 

206 

74-34 

56.40 

2 54 

82.34 

69.60 

J 59 

63.00 

43-60 

207 

74.50 

56.70 

255 

82.50 

69.90 

160 

63 33 

43.80 

208 

74.67 

57.00 

256 

82.67 

70.10 

161 

63.67 

44.10 

209 

74.84 

57-30 

257 

82.84 

7040 

162 

64.00 

44-40 

210 

75 00 

57 - 5 ° 

258 

83.00 

70.70 

163 

64 33 

44.70 

211 

75 -i 7 

57 -80 

259 

83.17 

71.00 

164 

64.67 

44.90 

212 

75-34 

58.10 

260 

83 34 

71.20 

*65 

65 .00 

45.20 

213 

75 - 5 ° 

58.40 

261 

83-50 

71-50 

166 

65-33 

45-50 

214 

75 67 

58.60 

262 

83.67 

71.80 

167 

65.67 

4580 

215 

75-84 

58.90 

263 

8384 

72.10 

168 

66.00 

46.00 

216 

76.00 

59.20 

264 

84.00 

72.30 


56 































PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT BEFORE A FIRE. 


Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

Days. 

Short 

Rate. 

Pro 

Rata. 

265 

84.17 

72.60 

297 

89.50 

81.40 

329 

94.84 

90.10 

266 

84 -34 

72.90 

298 

89.67 

81.60 

33 o 

95.00 

90.40 

267 

84.50 

73.20 

299 

89.84 

81.90 

33 i 

95 • J 7 

90.70 

268 

84.67 

73 - 4 ° 

300 

90.00 

82.20 

332 

95-34 

91.00 

269 

84.84 

73 - 7 ° 

301 

90.17 

82.50 

333 

95 - 5 ° 

91.20 

2‘JO 

85.00 

74 -oo 

3°2 

90-34 

82.70 

334 

95-67 

91-50 

271 

8517 

74.20 

303 

90.50 

83.00 

335 

95-84 

91.80 

272 

85-34 

74.50 

304 

90.67 

83-30 

336 

96.00 

92.10 

2 73 

85-50 

74.80 

305 

90.84 

83.60 

337 

96.17 

92.30 

274 

85-67 

75 -io 

306 

91.00 

83.80 

338 

96.34 

92.60 

275 

85.84 

75 - 3 ° 

30 7 

91.17 

84.10 

339 

96.50 

92.90 

276 

86.00 

75.60 

308 

91-34 

84.40 

340 

96.67 

93.20 

277 

86.17 

75 - 9 ° 

3°9 

91-50 

8470 

34 i 

96.84 

93-40 

278 

86.34 

76.20 

310 

91.67 

84.90 

342 

97.00 

93-70 

279 

86.50 

76.40 

3 11 

9 1 • 84 

85.20 

343 

97.17 

94.00 

2 80 

86.67 

76.70 

312 

92.00 

85-50 

344 

97-34 

94.20 

281 

86.84 

77.00 

3 i 3 

92.17 

85.80 

345 

97 - 5 ° 

94-50 

282 

87.00 

77-30 

3 i 4 

92.34 

86.00 

346 

97.67 

94.80 

283 

87.17 

77 - 5 ° 

3 i 5 

92.50 

86.30 

347 

97.84 

95 -io 

284 

87-34 

77.80 

316 

92.67 

86.60 

348 

98.00 

95-30 

285 

87 - 5 o 

78.10 

3 i 7 

92.84 

86.80 

349 

98.17 

95.60 

286 

87.67 

78.40 

318 

93.00 

87.10 

350 

98.34 

95 - 9 ° 

287 

87.84 

78.60 

3 i 9 

93-17 

87.40 

35 i 

9850 

96.20 

288 

88.00 

78.90 

320 

93-34 

87.70 

352 

98.67 

96.40 

289 

88.17 

79.20 

321 

93-50 

87.90 

353 

98.84 

96.70 

290 

88.34 

79-50 

322 

93-67 

88.20 

354 

99.00 

97.00 

291 

88.50 

79.70 

323 

93-84 

88.50 

355 

99.17 

97-30 

292 

88.67 

80.00 

324 

94.00 

88.80 

356 

99-34 

97-50 

293 

88.84 

80.30 

325 

94.17 

89.00 

357 

99 - 5 ° 

97.80 

294 

89.00 

80.50 

326 

94-34 

89.30 

358 

99.67 

98.10 

295 

89.17 

80.80 

327 

94 - 5 ° 

89.60 

359 

99.84 

98.40 

296 

89 34 

81.10 

328 

9+67 

89.90 

360 

100.00 

98.60 





























SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Term Policies—Short Rates 


Time 

in 

Force. 

3 Years. 

5 Years. 

Time 

in 

Force. 

3 Years. 

5 Years. 

Time 

in 

Force. 

3 Years. 

5 Years. 

Mos. 



Mos. 



Mos. 



1 

10 

7 

21 

76 

5 i 

41 


76 

2 

15 

10 

22 

77 $ 

52 

42 


77 

3 

20 

13 

23 

79 

53 

43 


78 

4 

25 

17 

24 

80 

54 

44 


80 

5 

3 ° 

20 

25 

82 

55 

45 


82 

6 

35 

23 

26 

83$ 

56 

46 


84 

7 

37 $ 

25 

27 

85 

57 

47 


85 

8 

40 

27 

28 

87 

58 

48 


87 

9 

42$ 

28 

29 

88* 

59 

49 


89 

10 

45 

30 

3 ° 

9 ° 

60 

50 


90 

11 

47 $ 

32 

3 i 

92 

61 

5 i 


9 i 

12 

50 

34 

32 

93 $ 

62 

52 


92 

13 

53 $ 

36 

33 

95 

63 

53 


93 

14 

57 

38 

34 

97 

65 

54 


94 

i 5 

60 

40 

35 

98 $ 

66 

55 


95 

16 

63$ 

42 

36 

100 

67 

56 


96 

i 7 

67 

44 

37 

.. 

68 

57 


97 

18 

70 

46 

38 


70 

58 

- .. 

98 

r 9 

72 

48 

39 


72 

59 


99 

20 

74 

49 

40 


74 

60 


100 


MORTGAGES AND OTHER INTERESTS. 

One nail drives another. 

“If, with the Consent of this Company, an interest 
“under this policy shall exist in favor of a mortgagee or of any 
“person or corporation having an interest in the subject of 
“insurance other than the interest of the insured as described 
“herein, the conditions hereinbefore contained shall apply in 
“the manner expressed in such provisions and conditions of 
“insurance relating to such interests as shall be written upon, 
“attached, or appended hereto." In order to overcome the 
restrictive clauses of the policy many loaning institutions, such 
as building and loan associations, trust companies, life insurance 
companies, are using a form of mortgage clause which relieves 
them of all results of the conditions of voidance or forfeiture of 
the policy, notwithstanding that under the policy in case of 
loss the insured would be unable to collect on account of the 
voidance or forfeiture of the policy; this is not fair to the com¬ 
panies; it has been a matter of growth, each step being allowed 
by the companies; now it is “full-blown” and a condition not 
contemplated by the contract. See also Page 41, “ if the 
“interest of the insured in the property he not truly stated 
also Page 43, “if the interest of the insured he other than 
unconditional or sole." 


58 



















PART THREE, 


PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT OF INSUR¬ 
ANCE APPLICABLE AFTER A FIRE. 


No one is always right. 

Even the dog gets bread by wagging his tail. 

A little oil may save a deal of friction. 

In courtesy, rather pay a penny too much than too little. 




CHAPTER i 


THE ADJUSTER. 


Let every tub stand on its own bottom. 

A successful adjuster is very composite in his knowledge and 
characteristics, for he must not only be conversant with the 
conditions and provisions of the policy, but be somewhat of a 
lawyer in the interpretation of the form attached to the policy 
and in his familiarity with the various legal decisions rendered 
on specific points and affecting a policy and its conditions; but 
he must be a bookkeeper in order to analyze books and make 
book-statements and figure out profit and loss; must be a 
merchant in order to know the grades and at least relative 
prices of merchandise; he must be a mechanic in the respect of 
knowing whether damaged machinery is susceptible to repair 
and about what the cost of repairs should be; he must be patient, 
be an investigator, a detective, builder, a prompt and ready 
thinker, have a quick perception, be honest, diplomatic and 
have stamina, and withal he should be courteous and gentle¬ 
manly. 

By diligence and patience the mouse bit the candle in two. 

An adjuster is clothed with all the authority of his company, 
and his every act and word binds his company to the decisions 
and consequences of such act and word, hence it can readily be 
seen that caution, carefulness, prudence and due deliberation 
should accompany each act and word in any and every case in 
order to be able to proceed at all times in such a manner as to 
preserve to his company all its rights under the policy, but 
especially is this so when there is even the least reason to suspect 
fraud in the loss, or that any litigation may grow out of the loss 
or its adjustment, for while most companies will go to a great 
extent in order to avoid litigation, still it cannot be avoided 
at times, and it cannot always be foreseen and prepared for in 
advance, for the manner in which an adjustment begins does 
not indicate how it will end; therefore it behooves an adjuster 


60 




THE ADJUSTER. 


to be on his guard at all times as to what bearing his acts and 
words will have not only upon an adjustment itself while in 
process, but upon any subsequent condition, whether of com¬ 
promise or litigation, which may arise. 

To be humble to superiors is duty , to equals courtesy , to inferiors 
nobleness. 

An adjuster must fully realize that he comes in contact with 
all sorts and conditions of persons, and that much of his success 
or failure depends upon his own personality and his ability to 
rise to or descend to the level of each claimant so as to meet 
him on his own ground of understanding; but at the same time 
he should not meet coarseness, improper language, rudeness 
and such like things in a like manner; tact, good judgment, 
patience, perseverance, good humor, courtesy, a control of 
temper and the obligations of a gentleman should at all times 
and under all conditions be maintained. All claimants are 
not frauds or dishonest; many are ignorant, others have had bad 
advice given them, others are impelled in the making of their 
claims by their sentiment and regard for them property in 
making an exorbitant claim, others have been warned against 
adjusters and go to extremes in their claims that they otherwise 
would not, others take offence at the slightest apparent incli¬ 
nation of the adjuster to question any statement which they 
may make, and while all these should be treated with fairness, 
patience and courtesy, so must the apparently dishonest, 
offensive, unreasonable claimant be treated with tact, good 
judgment and courtesy. All claimants are not alike, neither 
are all adjusters alike. An unreasonable claimant does not 
necessarily indicate a dishonest one, any more than an adjuster 
who stands out for what is due his company indicates an unfair 
adjuster. Where a claimant is put in and kept in a good humor 
half the labor of adjustment has already been accomplished, 
and where this is followed by gaining the confidence of the 
claimant the other “half” is only a mere matter of routine 
detail. 

Confidence begets confidence. 

It is a most essential thing for an adjuster who is to be of 
real value to his company that he should so adjust each loss that 
each claimant shall receive the full and proper amount for all 
loss and damage sustained to his property, not too little nor 
too much; but in order to do this, the adjuster must not descend 
to the “squeezing” of the claimant who is ignorant of his rights 
under the policy, or who is willing to accept the judgment of 
the adjuster on the theory that the adjuster will do what is right 


61 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


and proper; nor by “bluffing” the claimant into accepting 
certain figures merely in order to make a good statement of 
loss on the proof of loss so as to impress his company with his 
astuteness, nor to find salvage where it actually does not exist 
in order to save his company money fairly or unfairly; nor to 
agree to overpay in one case so as to save in another and thus 
probably and almost certainly altogether overpay in the end; 
nor to weaken under the “bluffing” and violence of language 
of the claimant and admit what he knows is an improper or 
excessive claim; nor the agreeing to recognize articles not 
covered in order to get the loss “off of his hands”; nor should 
be “back down” from his no when he knows he is in the right. 
At times it is necessary and advisable to meet an insured “half 
way” and compromise a loss, and here an adjuster’s judgment 
and common sense must take the place of definitely itemized 
figures. No reputable company wants to cheat an insured, 
nor does any such company want its adjuster to leave the 
claimant in a dissatisfied frame of mind and antagonistic to the 
company, if possible. Common sense, fairness, reason and the 
exact terms of the policy should be mixed together in the 
arriving at the measure of loss and damage. 

Careless shepherds make many a feast for the wolf. 

Careless and loose adjustments, jump-estimates and all such 
lazy and shiftless methods are a bane to the company, the agent, 
the insured and the adjuster. They usually result to the 
profit of the insured, and even if not to his profit, to the hurt 
of the company and the agent any way, for they result in the 
loss of business, in the future making of exorbitant and un¬ 
reasonable claims, and the future difficulty of the claimant or 
his friends or neighbors in getting together with an adjuster 
at any subsequent loss. 

The greatest things are done by the help of small ones. 

It is a foregone conclusion that every claimant cannot be 
left satisfied, contented and in a pleasant and smiling condition 
and frame of mind, but if the adjuster has gone about his 
business in a fair, reasonable and business-like manner and 
treated the claimant with courtesy, the latter is at least com¬ 
pelled to admit the adjuster has acted in a spirit of justness and 
fairness, whatever the final results of the adjustment may be. 


62 




CHAPTER 2. 


APPRAISAL. 


Of two evils choose the least. 

“Said Ascertainment or Estimate shall be made by the 
“ insured and this company, or, if they differ, then by appraisers, 
“as hereinafter provided.” 

On a good bargain think twice. 

“In the Event of Disagreement as to the Amount of 
“Loss the same shall, as above provided, be ascertained by two 
“competent and disinterested appraisers, the insured and this 
“company.each selecting one, and the two so chosen shall first 
“select a competent and disinterested umpire; the appraisers 
“together shall then estimate and appraise the loss, stating 
“separately sound value and damage, and, failing to agree, shall 
“submit -their differences to the umpire; and the award in 
“writing of any two shall determine the amount of such loss; 
“the parties thereto shall pay the appraisers respectively 
“selected by them and shall bear equally the expense of the 
“appraisal and umpire.” 

In States having a Valued Policy Law, where there is a tota\ 
destruction of the property covered, no appraisal can be de¬ 
manded, and if one is had the award cannot be enforced if it 
is for a less amount than the amount of the insurance covering 
on the property damaged. 

It is not to be supposed that the amount of every loss can b< 
satisfactorily determined between the insured and the adjuster, 
therefore the policy provides this friendly and equitable method 
of determining the measure of damage where the insured and 
company differ , hence where there is a disagreement an appraisal, 
if demanded, is a condition precedent to a recovery. The 
stipulation clearly states, however, that if they differ, hence no 
appraisal is binding unless the insured and the company haw 


63 




SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


first tried to agree upon the amount of loss but have failed to 
do so. 

A denial of liability waives all the rights of a company to 
demand an appraisal, hence no appraisal should be entered 
into, agreed to, demanded or suggested where the company is 
not ready to admit liability, unless a Non-Waiver Agreement 
has been entered into, as such action by a company or its 
adjuster will waive all defense on the question of forfeiture. 

If either party has once refused to enter into an appraisal 
this party cannot thereafter demand an appraisal. 

If an insured refuses to agree to an appraisal, or endeavors to 
revoke an appraisal agreement and refuses to proceed with it, 
or takes an arbitrary stand as to when an appraisal agreement 
shall be signed, or an appraisal made, or disposes of any of the 
property covered by the policy before or during an appraisal, 
he stands in jeopardy of the forfeiture of his rights under the 
policy. 

It has been held by the courts and is the generally accepted 
doctrine that where an appraisal has been held and an award 
made that the filing of proof of loss is waived, and the demand 
of a company for an appraisal waives any defect in any proof 
of oss already filed. 

In a number of States it is held that it is the duty of the 
insured to ask for an appraisal, in others that the company must 
ask for it, but where the loss is apparently an honest one and the 
difference is irreconcilable but entirely a matter of judgment, 
then the adjuster should demand the appraisal, not waiting 
for the insured to do so, and not look up precedents and court 
decisions. 

In filling in an appraisal agreement the mere wording of the 
description of the property covered should appear without 
the amount of the policy or any other matter. 

All property covered by a policy must be submitted for 
appraisal and not only a part of the property. 

Most companies provide their own form of appraisal agree¬ 
ment blanks. 

Printed agreements are obtainable from insurance publica¬ 
tion concerns, but it should be seen that any such agreement 
conforms to the exact terms as expressed in the policy. 

Each and every company must make its own demand for an 
appraisal. 

It is in the best interest of the company to use as an appraiser 
the most skillful expert obtainable, but he should also be a man 
of intelligence and with sufficient stamina to maintain any 
stand he may take when he feels certain that his position is 

64 



APPRAISAL. 


correct. It is proper to use the same person as an appraiser on 
losses as long as he shall act in a disinterested manner, but a 
person who makes it his regular business to act as an appraiser 
for either the insured or the company can be objected to and 
disqualified on the ground that he is not a disinterested party, 
inasmuch as he is practically a constant employe of the party. 
Objection to an appraiser should be made in writing, stating 
the reasons for such objection in detail. 

What the appraisers are to do is clearly and specifically 
stated, and they must not take into consideration the manner 
in which the policy covers the property, or any endorsements 
on the policy, or the validity of the contract, or any question of 
liability, or anything other than the clearly stated subjects, 
i.e., estimate and appraise the loss, stating separately sound value 
and damage. It is obligatory for the appraisers to conform to 
the wording of the Appraisal Agreement and as sound value 
and damage are called for to be stated separately, the award 
must state these as called for, also all pertinent and material 
testimony must be accepted in arriving at the amount of loss. 
Appraisers must appraise the loss and damage together, not each 
by himself. 

The umpire must be. competent and disinterested. Frequently 
much trouble is experienced in getting an umpire, and the 
company's appraiser should be instructed to only submit 
names of competent and disinterested parties, and seek to obtain 
such parties living in the vicinity of the location of the loss; 
also, no name submitted by the insured’s appraiser should be 
objected to unless some good and sufficient reason can be given 
for the objection. Objection made by the company’s appraiser 
to any person whose name is submitted as umpire should be in 
writing. Only differences should be submitted to the umpire. 

According to decisions of some State courts a claimant should 
have knowledge of the meetings of the appraisers, in order to 
bring to their attention items of loss and make representations 
and explanations to them concerning the nature thereof. 

There are several conditions which may affect an award 
after it has been rendered to such an extent as to make it un¬ 
acceptable and constitute a proper reason for setting it aside; 
as, for instance, property covered but not considered; an ap¬ 
praiser known to his party as being interested and this fact not 
being known to the other party to the appraisal; refusal to hear 
evidence pertinent and material to the determination of the 
amount of loss; a material mistake with refusal to correct by 
one party; grossly inadequate or grossly excessive award, no 
examination of the loss by one or both of the appraisers or the 


65 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


umpire if he is called in; appraisers not together but separately 
arriving at their conclusions; but any objection of any kind 
must be made at the proper time, which same would be after a 
reasonable length of time for an examination of the award and 
all attendant circumstances. 

If after an award has been rendered the insured submits 
proof that certain items covered by the policy have not been 
considered by the appraisers, it is proper for the adjuster to 
agree to the reopening of the appraisal in order to include these 
items, but no further consideration should be permitted on 
items already considered and determined upon. 





66 







CHAPTER 3 . 


WAIVER. 


He that shows his purse longs to he rid of it. 

The policy with all its stipulations, agreements and indorse¬ 
ments is the basis of the adjustment and its contents should be 
known and thoroughly understood before any action is taken 
by an adjuster. No admission or denial of liability should be 
made or implied until all the conditions of the policy are fully 
known and the adjuster is absolutely certain of his position; 
the printed portion of the policy specifically provides for and 
permits that “this company shall not be held to have waived 
“any provision or condition of this policy or any forfeiture 
“thereof by any requirement, act, or proceeding on its part 
“relating to the appraisal or to any examination therein pro¬ 
vided for.” An adjuster is privileged to go upon the ground 
and make investigations of the origin and circumstances of a 
fire, ownership, occupancy, incumbrances, nature and extent 
of loss, take written statements from parties other than the 
assured, and without he has misled the claimant by his acts or 
words he is within the rights of the company and has not waived 
any forfeiture of the policy. 

Waiver, in a general way, may be said to occur wherever one, 
in possession of a right conferred either by law or by contract, 
and knowing the attendant facts, does not forbear to do some¬ 
thing inconsistent with the existence of the right or of his in¬ 
tention to rely upon it; in which case he is said to have waived 
it, and he is estopped from claiming anything by reason of it 
afterwards. (Bishop.) 

The policy says: “No officer, agent or other representative of 
“this company shall have power to waive any provision or 
“condition of this policy except such as by the terms of this 
“policy may be the subject of agreement indorsed hereon or 
“added hereto, and as to such provisions and conditions no 


67 




SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


“officer, agent or representative shall have such power or be 
“deemed or held to have waived such provisions or conditions 
“unless such waiver, if any, shall be written upon or attached 
“hereto, nor shall any privilege or permission affecting the 
“insurance under this policy exist or be claimed by the insured 
“unless so written or attached." But it is held by various 
courts, in spite of the general idea that the provisions of the 
contract cannot be set aside by a mere oral waiver, that this 
provision does not apply to all the acts and words of an ad¬ 
juster subsequent to a fire, hence an adjuster who, knowing 
that for violation of some of its conditions a policy has been 
forfeited, and who demands a proof of loss, or who accepts a 
proof of loss from the insured, or criticises a proof of loss already 
filed, or causes the insured to spend time and money in and about 
the loss, or leads the insured to believe that the policy has not 
been forfeited, or who misleads the insured in any way regard¬ 
ing the policy or its conditions either as to interpretation or as 
to the full compliance of the insured with the requirements of 
the policy, may thus waive the conditions of the policy and estop 
the company from protecting itself from the loss of its rights 
under the policy, hence all action in these particulars must be 
taken with circumspection. 

If an insured relies upon the acts of an adjuster, which acts 
imply the carrying out of the adjustment without denial of 
liability, or if the insured is put to any expense or trouble under 
an impression obtained from the adjuster that the adjustment 
is to proceed, or if the adjuster calls for an inventory, the com¬ 
pany will be held to have waived forfeiture. 

The policy sets forth specifically and in detail just what 
valuation shall be given property destroyed, how the values 
shall be arrived at, who shall arrive at the measure of loss and 
damage, how disputes shall be settled, in what form the loss 
shall be given the company, in what form and what must enter 
into the statement (proof) of loss, when the proof must be filed 
and when the loss must be paid, and while all this would appeal 
to the ordinary person as very clear and readily complied with, 
yet as no two losses present in all particulars the same identical 
conditions, so the adjustment of a loss is beset by difficulties 
and obstacles and must be studied from every point and must 
be carefully considered in every detail in order not to waive any 
rights of the company or place any prejudice before the insured. 


68 


WAIVER. 


DENIAL OF LIABILITY. 

It is easier to descend than ascend. 

Great care must be exercised on this point, for both an 
expressed and an implied denial of liability have been held to 
relieve the insured from all necessity of furnishing proof of loss, 
or statements, or in any way complying with any of the pro¬ 
visions of the policy appertaining to modes of procedure sub¬ 
sequent to a fire. If there is reason to believe, without proof 
positive, that the claim is fraudulent or that the contract has 
been violated, much care must be exercised in avoiding any 
denial or leaving the insured to suspect or believe that there will 
be a denial of liability; in such a case a sworn proof of loss may 
be quite an essential instrument, and the failure of the insured 
to provide it will furnish the company with an absolute defense, 
but the filing or non-filing of the proof of loss must be left to 
the insured as his own voluntary act without any advice or 
instruction from the adjuster; any denial of liability will act as 
a waiver of the requirement of filing of such an instrument. 
If the violation of the policy is found after an investigation is 
made by the adjuster he can leave the scene of the loss, but 
before leaving it is advisable that he should inform the insured 
that the policy clearly explains just what the insured must do 
in case of loss and that he must govern himself accordingly, 
and that he (the adjuster) can give him no advice in the matter; 
if necessary, the insured can be informed that the company 
neither admits nor denies liability, but if the insured is'told that 
the matter will be referred to the company, or that the adjuster 
will see him again, or that he will let him hear from him, then 
it will be incumbent upon the adjuster or the company to advise 
the insured of the stand which the company intends to assume, 
or the adjuster to again visit the insured, or to carry out in 
detail whatever has been told the insured,and any filing of proof 
of loss previous to such information being given the insured 
or visit, etc., etc., cannot be called for, and the courts will allow 
the sixty days for filing same to be extended from the day the 
insured obtains the information the adjuster or company has 
stated would be furnished him, or in lieu of such information 
to commence suit without filing proof and without limitation 
of time for the commencement of suit. In such cases, where 
any question whatever arises, all communications should 
preferably be in writing. 

In case immediate action is advisable in order to ascertain the 
amount of loss and damage on account of susceptibility of the 
damaged property to further loss, or on the question of de- 


69 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


predation, or for any other good reason, then a Non-Waiver 
Agreement should be executed previous to any determination 
of the amount of loss or damage; this agreement will reserve to 
the company as well as the insured all rights under the policy 
and at the same time permit the ascertainment of the amount 
of loss and damage by appraisal or otherwise, and bind both 
parties to the amount so found, this amount being the final 
measure of loss even in case of litigation. 

Direct Loss or Damage. —See Pages 39 and 40 

“This Company Shall Not be Liable Beyond the Actual 
“Cash Value of the Property at the Time any Loss or 
“ Damage Occurs, and the loss or damage shall be ascertained 
“or estimated according to such actual cash value, with proper 
“deductions for depreciation however caused, and shall in no 
“event exceed what it would then cost the insured to repair 
“or replace the same with material of like kind and quality.” 

“Actual Cash Value” means the cost of the property at 
the time and at the place of fire, whether this cost should be 
greater or less than what was paid for the property at the time 
of its purchase. Depreciation, see Page 71. 





70 




CHAPTER 4. 


DEPRECIATION. 


Use soft words and hard arguments. 

While a proper depreciation is to a certain extent a matter 
of individual judgment, yet what a fair depreciation is under 
average conditions has been relatively brought down to ap¬ 
proximately a definite point. By deducting the depreciation 
from the actual cash value the “sound value” of the property 
is ascertained, and it is on the basis of this “sound value” 
that the loss and damage must be paid, but under no circum¬ 
stance must the loss and damage exceed the “sound value.” 

DEPRECIATION OF BUILDINGS. 

TIFFANY’S ESTIMATES OF DEPRECIATION. 

(Used by United States Government.) 

The figures given are for new buildings. To ascertain the 
present value, a discount between old and new should be made 
as follows: 

Brick, occupied by owner. i to if% per year. 

Brick, occupied by tenant. ii to i^% per year. 

Frame, occupied by owner. 2 to 2^% per year. 

Frame, occupied by tenant. 2 % to 3 % per year. 

If built of “long leaf” Yellow Pine, or of Spruce, found in 
New England States, add 20 to 30%, or if of “short leaf” 
Yellow Pine, add 40 to 50% to his figure. If of Redwood or 
Cedar, found on Pacific Coast, charge only about half his esti¬ 
mates which are for White Pine or White Pine with Oak fram¬ 
ing timbers. 

SPAULDING’S TABLES OF DEPRECIATION. 

Estimate for Depreciation of different parts of buildings, 
prepared bv Judge Spaulding after consulting eighty-three 


7 1 








SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


prominent builders living in eleven states in the Mississippi 
Valley. 



Frame 

Dwelling. 

Brick 

Dwelling. 

Frame 

Store. 

Brick 

Store. 

Material in Building. 

Average 

Life, Years. 

Annual 
Depreciation. 

[ Average 

1 Life, Years. 

Annual 

Depreciation. 

Average 

Life, Years. 

1 Annual 

Depreciation. 

Average 

Life, Years. 

| Annual 

Depreciation. 

Brick. 


% 

75 

% 

1$ 


% 

66 

% 

’J 

31 

16 

Plastering. 

20 

5 

3 ° 

3$ 

16 

6 

3° 

Painting, outside. 

5 

20 

7 

14 

5 

20 

6 

Painting, inside. 

7 

14 

7 

14 

5 

20 

6 

16 

Shingles. 

16 

6 

16 

6 

16 

6 

16 

6 

1 

Cornice. 

40 

2 h 

40 

2^ 

3 ° 

3 f 

40 

2 s 

Weather-boarding. 

3 ° 

3* 



30 

3 i 



Sheathing. 

5 ° 

2 

50 

2 

40 


50 

2 

♦Flooring. 

20 

5 

■ 20 

5 

13 

8 

13 

8 

Doors, complete. 

30 

33 

30 

3 f 

25 

4 

3 ° 

3 ^ 

Windows, complete. 

3° 

3i 

3° 

3i 

25 

4 

3° 


Stairs and Newel. 

3° 

37 

3° 

3I 

20 

5 

20 

s' 

Base. 

40 

f* 

* 40 

2^ 

3° 

3 f 

30 

3 

Inside Blinds. 

3° 

3i 

3° 

3l 

30 

37 

3° 

z \ 

Building Hardware...... 

20 

5 

20 

5 

13 

8 

13 

8 

Piazzas, Porches. 

20 

5 

20 

5 

20 

5 

20 

5 

Outside Blinds. 

16 

6 

16 

6 

16 

6 

16 

6 

Sills and First Floor Joists 

25 

4 

40 

2^ 

25 

4 

3° 

3^ 

Dimensions Lumber. 


2 

75 


40 

2* 

66 

11 


* If carpeted, double life and reduce depreciation one-half. 


These figures for depreciation are to include buildings where 
ordinary repairs have been made. If extraordinary repairs 
have been made, the discount should not be so heavy. Exercise 
good judgment as to depreciation, and when you are certain 
what the present worth of building is, insure it for about 80% 
of same. 


Depreciation of Household Furniture. —The depre¬ 
ciation here is very much in accordance with the number of 
persons using it, especially^when children are many and much 
in evidence. Wearing apparel goes first, then follow crockery, 
carpets, furniture, beds and bedding, books, pictures, piano, 
etc., etc. The depreciation ranges anywhere from 75% per 
annum on wearing apparel to 20% per annum on other articles 
and is a matter for much consideration. 

Depreciation of Mercantile Stocks. —The depreciation 
here is in various percentages, open stocks on shelves, or par- 


72 


















































DEPRECIATION. 


ticularly on counters, depreciates much '«*6re rapidly 
than similar stock in cases and boxes; general stock’s in country 
store depreciates rapidly, as they are always open, subject to 
much handling and seldom dusted; retail stocks in city stores 
usually receive considerable care in being dusted, covered, and 
excepting in case of some classes of stocks there is comparative¬ 
ly little handling of same. Just what depreciation should be 
figured depends wholly upon how often the stock is “turned 
over”—the character of the merchandise, the care given it, 
etc., etc., hence an adjuster must exercise much Care and judg¬ 
ment in applying depreciation here. Articles out of style, or 
no longer made, or used for advertising, etc., are subject to 
high depreciation. The order of depreciation of various classes 
of stocks in city stores would be comparatively in the follow¬ 
ing order, starting with the class subject to the highest depre¬ 
ciation: artificial flowers for millinery purposes, straw goods, 
laces and ribbons, general millinery stock, military and society 
goods, gents’ furnishing goods, retail stock of notions, retail 
stock of hardware, toys, leather goods, books and stationery, 
dry goods, wholesale stock of notions, hats and caps, cloth¬ 
ing, furniture, furs, boots and shoes, harness and saddlery, 
wooden and willow ware, drugs, rubber goods, wholesale stock 
of hardware, musical instruments, queensware. In country 
stores the relative order of depreciation from stock subject 
to the highest to that subject to the lower percentage of de¬ 
preciation, would be about as follows: straw goods, laces, 
notions, ribbons, clothing, hats and caps, miscellaneous goods, 
boots and shoes, dry goods, hardware, wooden and willow 
ware, groceries, queensware. 

Breakage. —The United States Custom House allowance for 
breakage of bottled liquor in original packages is 5%, in lieu 
of actual valuation. In certain kinds of stocks, such as crock¬ 
ery, toys, etc., the item of breakage must reach quite an im¬ 
portant figure in case of a fire on the premises. 

Coffee will shrink in weight 5% the first year and 2% each 
year thereafter. 

Corn shrinks much from the time it is first husked; one 
hundred bushels of ears as they come from the field in November 
will be reduced to not far from eighty, so that forty cents a 
bushel for corn in the ear as it comes from the field is as good 
as fifty cents in March, shrinkage only being taken into account. 

New Orleans Molasses will lose by leakage and drying fifty 
to one hundred pounds per hogshead from March to September. 

Potatoes, taking those that rot and are otherwise lost, to¬ 
gether with the shrinkage, there is but little doubt that be- 


7 3 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


tween October and June the loss to the owner who holds them 
is not less than 33%. 

Wheat from the time it is threshed will sink two quarts to 
the bushel, or 6%, in six months, under the most favorable 
circumstances. 

White Sugar, A, B, C, in barrels, will shrink about \\% 
from March to September. 


74 


CHAPTER 5. 


ABANDONMENT OF PROPERTY. 


There are losses which are gains , and gains which are losses. 

“It Shall be Optional, however, with this company to take 
‘ ‘ all or any part of the articles at such ascertained or appraised 
‘’value, and also to repair, rebuild, or replace the property 
“lost or damaged with other of like kind and quality within 
“a reasonable time, on giving notice, within thirty days after 
“the receipt of the proof herein required, of its intention* to 
“do so; but there can be no abandonment to this company of 
“the property described.” Appraised stocks are frequently 
taken by the companies at appraised value and turned over to 
“salvage” or “wrecking” companies for disposal in the inter¬ 
est of the companies, but it is well to be certain that the loss 
to the company can be reduced in this way before taking this 
step. The option to take any article, or repair, or rebuild, 
or replace must be exercised within thirty days after receipt of 
the proof of loss as per the stipulations. As a general prin¬ 
ciple it can be said that the option to repair, rebuild or replace 
a building should not be exercised, as it usually ends in a law 
suit as to whether the work has been properly done and in 
accordance with the terms of the policy, or on account of local 
building laws, or on account of delays. In States with a 
Valued Policy Law relating to buildings the company is estopped 
from exercising the option to repair, rebuild or replace when 
the loss is total; the face of the policy must be paid. An in¬ 
sured cannot at his own volition abandon his property on which 
loss or damage has occurred to the company; the company 
alone can decide whether it will take the property or not, and 
if the company decides to take it the insured has no redress. 

SUBROGATION. 

“Ir this Company shall Claim that the Fire was Caused 
“by the Act or Neglect of any Person or Corporation, 
“Private or Municipal, this company shall on payment of 


75 




SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 

“loss be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all rights 
“of recovery by the insured for the loss resulting therefrom, 
“and such rights shall be assigned to this company by the 
“insured on receiving such payment.” While a subrogation 
agreement is not a necessary instrument to action under the 
decision of some courts, still it is advisable to have such a signed 
agreement with the insured. In action brought under this 
stipulation it is highly advisable to join forces with the insured 
and have the suit brought in the name of the insured. 

SUIT FOR RECOVERY. 

“No Suit or Action on this Policy, for the Recovery 
“of any Claim, shall be sustainable in any court of law or 
“equity until after the full compliance by the insured with all 
“the foregoing requirements, nor unless commenced within 
“twelve months next after the filing.” This is self-explanatory. 

COMPROMISE. 

Sometimes it is better to give your apple away than to eat it yourself. 

Compromise of a loss is at times advisable. 

A compromise submitted by an insured but not accepted by 
the company will not act as a waiver although considered by 
the company. 

A compromise should not be proposed by an adjuster unless 
he is ready to admit the liability of the company under the 
policy, for an offer of compromise is a confession of liability. 

FRAUD. 

Give him but rope enough and he'll hang himself. 

There are two classes of fraud in connection with a fire; i.e., 
pertaining to a fraudulent burning and to a fraudulent claim. 
A fraudulent burning is one in which the insured starts a fire 
or procures someone to do it for him; in other words, an incen¬ 
diary fire in which the insured is involved. In States having 
a Fire Marshal Law the suspicions or facts of such a condition 
can be given the fire marshal and the State should assume any 
prosecution; but where no such law is in existence the adjuster 
must act as a detective, with secrecy and circumspection, 
following each clue to the end and obtaining sworn statements 
wherever possible; in some cases evidence sufficient to convict 
cannot be obtained and it is then for the adjuster to diplomat¬ 
ically use such information as he has in order to obtain the 
surrender of the policy, but a consideration, nominally in full 


76 


ABANDONMENT OF PROPERTY. 


payment of the loss, should be given for the surrender of the 
policy in order to make the same legally valid and binding; 
no threats nor intimidations should be used and nothing done 
to leave the insured to believe himself under duress. A form 
of receipt for the consideration should be taken in which it is 
distinctly stated that the company is released and forever dis¬ 
charged from all liability for loss and damage by fire or other¬ 
wise to the property described in the policy for the fire occurring 
on the (specifically named date). A fraudulent claim cannot 
always be detected, but where believed to exist all conditions 
relating to the fraud should be well “in hand” before the insured 
is allowed to even have a suspicion that such a thing is believed: 
This class of fraud may be in “padded” statements, in relation 
to goods removed either before or after a fire, in -relation to 
prices, and in fact covers any false statement an insured may 
knowingly and purposely make in relation to a loss. 

PAYMENT OF LOSS. 

A man without money is like a ship without sail. 

“The Sum for which this Company is Liable pursuant 
“to this policy shall be payable sixty days after due notice, 
“ascertainment, estimate, and satisfactory proof of the loss 
“have been received by this company in accordance with the 
“terms of this policy. 

“The loss shall not become payable until sixty days after the 
“notice, ascertainment, estimate, and satisfactory proof of the 
“loss herein required have been received by this company 
“including an award by appraisers when appraisal has been 
“required.” 

Payment for a loss is not due sixty days after a fire, or after 
a preliminary statement is filed, or after the amount of loss and 
damage are agreed upon, but in accordance with the above 
stipulation only Payment is frequently discounted at one 
per cent, for cash. 


77 


CHAPTER 6. 


PROOF OF LOSS. 


Zeal without knowledge is frenzy. 

Satisfactory Proof of the Loss. —What a satisfactory 
proof is, is to some extent a matter of evidence, but with the 
expressed and explicit instructions as to the proof to be furnished 
by the insured in case of fire, there is no ground for refusing 
acceptance of a proof on the basis of it not being satisfactory, 
outside of the clear stipulations of the policy itself. If the 
inventory does hot properly enumerate all articles, give the 
cash value of each item and the amount of loss thereon , or if it does 
not give any of the other information as stipulated, then it is 
not satisfactory as a proof. 

“If Fire Occur, the Insured Shall Give Immediate 
“Notice of any Loss Thereby in Writing to this Com- 
“pany, protect the property from further damage, forthwith 
“separate the damaged and undamaged personal property, 
“put it in the best possible order, make a complete inventory 
“of the same, stating the quantity and cost of each article and 
“the amount claimed thereon, and, within sixty days after the 
“fire, unless such time is extended in writing by this company, 

‘ shall render a statement to this company, signed and sworn 
‘to by said insured, stating the knowledge and belief of the 
“insured as to the time and origin of the fire, the interest of the 
“insured and of all others in the property, the cash value of 
“each item thereof and the amount of loss thereon, all incum- 
“brances thereon, all other insurance, whether valid or not, 
“covering any of said property, and a copy of all the descrip¬ 
tions and schedules in all policies, any changes in the title, 
“use, occupation, location, possession, or exposures of said 
“property since the issuing of this policy, by whom and for 
“what purpose any building therein described and the several 
“parts thereof were occupied at the time of fire, and shall 
“furnish, if required, verified plans and specifications of any 


78 




PROOF OF LOSS. 


“building, fixtures, or machinery destroyed or damaged; and 
“shall also, if required, furnish a certificate of the magistrate 
“or notary public (not interested in the claim as a creditor or 
“otherwise, nor related to the insured) living nearest the place 
“of fire, stating that he has examined the circumstances and 
“believes the insured has honestly sustained loss to the amount 
‘that such magistrate or notary public shall certify.” 

Immediate Notice in Writing. —Any reasonable delay or 
the not serving of the notice of loss in writing will void the 
policy, although companies usually recognize verbal notice and 
frequently recognize a claim, notice of which has not been 
served immediately , but in case of a questionable loss these 
points of forfeiture should be taken into due consideration and 
no waiver of them should be made. 

No pains , no gains. 

“Protect the Property from Further Damage, forth- 
“ with separate the damaged and undamaged personal prop- 
“erty, put it in the best possible order.” This is a very clear 
and explicit summary of just what the insured is required to 
do in the way of the protection, etc., of the property damaged. 

“A Complete Inventory of tiie Same, stating the quantity 
“and cost of each article and the amount claimed thereon.” 
What a complete inventory is has been variously decided by 
different courts in different States; in some, if the signs “ “ 
(ditto) are used it has been held that the inventory is not com¬ 
plete , inasmuch as the articles have not been specifically named; 
in others it has been held “a lot of goods in show windows,” 
“lot of short bosoms, handkerchiefs, etc.,” or the average 
price of a number of the same class of articles will comply with 
the stipulation; as a general proposition, the compliance with 
the stipulation, which same is very clear and comprehensive, 
can be absolutely insisted upon, with a reasonable consideration 
where it is evident that each article cannot be enumerated, or 
the individual cost given on account of conditions beyond the 
control of the insured. 

“Within Sixty Days After a Fire, unless such time is- 
“extended in writing by this company, shall render a statement 
“to this company signed and sworn to by said insured.” 

A careless watch invites the vigilant foe. 

A very careful reading of a form is always necessary in order 
that no claim shall be considered on any article not covered by 
the policy, and also in order to have each article under its. 
proper item. 


79 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Where a proof of loss is defective in any particular an ac¬ 
knowledgment of the receipt of “certain papers evidently pur¬ 
porting to be a proof of loss” can be made and the papers 
returned to the insured for proper completion or correction 
without the waiving of any of the rights under the policy by 
the company; a verified copy should be retained where there 
is any fear that the papers may be manipulated. 

Where a proof of loss is returned to an insured for completion 
or correction each of the points needing completion or cor¬ 
rection must be specifically enumerated in the letter trans¬ 
mitting the proof to the insured, for the courts have generally 
held that no additional corrections can be called for after the 
original corrections demanded have been made, but a re-correc¬ 
tion of a demanded correction may be called for. 

Defects in a proof of loss may be of various kinds, for instance, 
absolute non-compliance with the stipulations of the policy 
pertaining to the information needed to formulate a proof of 
loss, or giving information in an incomplete shape, or by an 
inventory not being a complete inventory, etc., in such certainty 
must be with the adjuster in that he must be absolutely sure 
that a defect under the stipulations of the policy exists, and 
he must be able to point out definitely what the defect is. 

It is good to have two strings to one's how. 

A proof of loss in correct form and filed within the required 
sixty days’ time, where no forfeiture exists, but where for some 
good reason a delay is deemed advisable before the acceptance 
of the proof as being satisfactory can be acknowledged and the 
insured be required to submit to examination under oath, to 
produce for examination all books of accounts, bills, invoices, and 
other vouchers, and if the original bills, invoices and other vouchers 
be lost he must produce certified copies thereof, and shall fur¬ 
nish, if required, verified plans and specifications of any build¬ 
ing, fixture, or machinery destroyed or damaged and by the de¬ 
manding of these things time can be gained; but the courts will 
not concur in any unnecessary harassing of the insured or uphold 
any captious criticism as to defects, or the pointing out of 
defects one at a time, or the withholding of acceptance of the 
proof by the demanding of unnecessary information and papers; 
there must be at least some apparent justness in the demand¬ 
ing of anything which will delay the closing of the loss and 
the acceptance of filed proof. 

A proof of loss filed by the insured within the sixty days 
required, when the adjuster has knowledge of a forfeiture of 
the policy and where the proof of loss is complete in all details, 


80 


PROOF OF LOSS. 


will in itself show the forfeiture of the policy and no acknowl¬ 
edgment of the receipt of same should be made; where there 
is a question as to fraud or forfeiture and the insured files a 
proof of loss, the paper should be acknowledged as a paper 
“purporting to be a proof of loss,” but which cannot be accepted 
as a satisfactory proof of loss on account of the following among 
other reasons (then state specific reasons), and acceptance of 
same can be declined with a statement that the paper will be 
held subject to the order of the insured; certified copies of such 
proof should be made and kept. 

If an insured asks for a blank proof of loss it can be refused 
to him on the ground that the company furnishes its blanks 
to its adjusters for their use only and that the company is put 
to an expense in so furnishing the blanks; the attention can 
then be called to the fact that the policy itself clearly states 
what shall appear in the proof of loss, but the insured must 
not be left under the impression that a blank will be furnished, 
as this will tend to waive the sixty days’ limit for the filing cf 
a proof of loss; where no fraud or forfeiture is found and liability 
is acknowledged it is the rule for the adjuster to make up the 
proof of loss on his company’s blank for the insured; in this 
way a company receives identically similar forms of proof of 
loss. 

Printed proof of loss should be used and care should be 
taken to fully answer each question appearing thereon. 

If proof of loss has been received after the expiration of 
sixty days after the fire it should be returned to the insured with 
a memorandum to the effect that it is declined on account 
of non-compliance with the stipulation in Policy No. (set in 
the number of the policy) of the (set in the name of the com¬ 
pany) pertaining to the limit of time in which a proof of loss 
can be filed. * 

Retention of proof of loss for more than twenty-three days 
without objection has been held to act as a waiver of any defects 
therein. It is the duty of the company to immediately notify 
the insured if the proof of loss is defective. 

Silence regarding a proof of loss will act as a waiver for cor¬ 
rection, hence some action must be taken upon the receipt 
of an incomplete or incorrect proof of loss. 

Care must be exercised in order that the insured shall not 
be given to understand that no proof of loss will be required, 
or that the adjuster or company will furnish the papers to the 
insured, for this would undoubtedly be held to be a waiver of 
the stipulations for the insured to file a proof of loss, on the 
part of the company. 


81 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


An adjuster should search the records for mortgages and 
liens, for a dishonest claimant may conveniently forget a chattel 
mortgage or some other forfeiting claim against the property 
covered by the policy. 

“Certificate of the Magistrate or Notary Public 
(“Not interested in the claim as a creditor or otherwise, nor 
“related to the insured) living nearest the place of fire, stating 
“that he has examined the circumstances and believes the 
“insured has honestly sustained loss to the amount that such 
“magistrate or Notary Public shall certify.” The adjuster 
must determine for himself the need of such a certificate ; if he 
feels that the loss is an honest one and that he has all of the 
facts in connection with it, then this stipulation can well be 
waived. 

Do not sail too near the wind. 

“The insured, as often as required, shall exhibit to any 
“person designated by this company all that remains of any 
“property herein described, and submit to examinations under 
“oath by any person named by this company and subscribe 
“the same; and, as often as required, shall produce for exam¬ 
ination all books of account, bills, invoices, and other vouchers, 
“ or certified copies thereof, if originals be lost, at such reasonable 
“place as may be designated by this company or its represent- 
“ ative and shall permit extracts and copies thereof to be made.” 
A reasonable time after the notice of the fire or the filing of the 
proof of loss and a reasonable place must be designated by the 
company; the place need not necessarily be in the same location 
as where the fire occurred but must be within some reasonable 
distance from it. In some cases it has been held that the party 
before whom an examination is to be made must be a person 
authorized by law to administer oaths and that he must be 
named. In case that certified copies cannot be obtained by 
the insured he must show that he has exercised all reasonable 
efforts to obtain them. An adjuster must use judgment in 
taking advantage of this privilege in order not to needlessly 
harass the insured or lead him to believe that liability is ac¬ 
knowledged when' such is not the case, as such proceedings will 
jeopardize the rights of the company in certain directions. 


82 


PROOF OF LOSS. 


CONTRIBUTION AND APPORTIONMENT OF LOSS. 

“This Company Shall not be Liable under this Policy 
“for a Greater Proportion of any Loss on the Described 
“Property, or for loss by an expense of removal from premises 
“endangered by fire, than the amount hereby insured shall bear 
“to the whole insurance, whether valid or not, or by solvent 
“or insolvent insurers, covering such property, and the extent 
“of the application of the insurance under this policy or of 
“the contribution to be made by this company in case of loss 
“may be provided for by agreement or condition written here- 
“on or attached or appended hereto. Liability for re-insur- 
“ance shall be as specifically agreed hereon.” 

With non-concurrent policies the question of apportionment 
becomes at times a very much complicated one and no abso¬ 
lutely definite rule can be given for all cases. 

Where there is “blanket” and “specific” insurance, in iustice 
to the insured the contribution of the “blanket” insurance 
should commence with any loss on property not covered by 
the “specific” insurance, then apply on the item of the “spec¬ 
ific” insurance showing the greatest amount of loss, then follow? 
on the next greatest loss item of the “specific” insurance and so 
continue until the “blanket” insurance is exhausted or the 
claim is covered. 

“Reading Rule.” —“Compound Insurance shall contribute 
with specific, in proportion as the value of the specific property 
bears to the value of all the property covered by the compound 
policy.” This “rule” will not be fair or equitable to the insured 
in many cases, for an item of the specific insurance may bear 
such a large percentage to the value of the whole property and 
yet not have any loss under it as to prevent the insured re¬ 
covering his full amount of loss under other items. 

“Albany Rule.” —“If, at the happening of any fire, the 
insured shall Lave other insurance which includes the premises 
or property herein insured, provided such policy or policies 
shall at any time, or under any circumstances or contingency, 
be liable to the insured for any amount whatever, such policy 
or policies, as between the insured and this company, shall be 
considered as co-insurance and liable to contribution, anything 
in the said policy or policies to the contrary notwithstanding.” 
This “rule” is particularly unjust to the company carrying 
the “blanket” policy, as this policy under this “rule” would 
have to contribute with each specific policy in its full face 
amount and so is subject to the making of payments which 
will exceed the amount of insurance carried under it. 


83 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


STATEMENT OF LOSS. 

A physical inventory should be taken wherever possible after 
a fire. 

FORM OF INVENTORY AND DETAILS OF CLAIM ON PERSONAL 

PROPERTY. 


Number 

of 

Articles. 

Name 

of 

Articles. 

Cost 
Price of 
Each. 

Total 

Cost. 

Age. 

Present 

Value. 

Loss 

and 

Damage. 









FORM OF INVENTORY AND DETAILS OF CLAIM ON MERCHANDISE. 


Number 

of 

Articles. 

Name 

of 

Articles. 

Cost 
Price of 
Each. 

Total 

Cost. 

Depreci¬ 

ation. 

Present 

Value. 

Loss 

and 

Damage. 









Specimen Statement of Loss where Inventory, Books of 
Accounts, Bills, etc., were available: 


Detailed Inventory taken at cost price, 


January ist, 1908.$23,410.60 

Less trade discount of 2 %. 468.21 


$72,942.39 

Add freight and drayage, as per detailed 

items. 1,605.97 


$24,548.36 

Agreed upon Depreciation, 20%. 4,909.67 

—-$19,638.69 

Purchases since inventory, as per bills. . . . $13,690.20 
Less goods returned. 720.80 


Less trade discount, 2 % 


$12,969.40 

259-39 


$12,710.01 

Add freight and drayage, as per detailed 

items. 868.25 


Merchandise sold since date of inventory 
to date of fire, as per books of accounts; 


Sales Prices.$16,680.20 

Less goods sold but returned. 264.80 


i3»578.26 

-$33,216.95 


$16,415.40 

Less profit on Sales Prices, 26%. 4,268.00 

- 12,147.40 

Total stock on hand at time of fire at Net 

Cash Value (Sound Value). $21,069.55 


84 











































PROOF OF LOSS. 


In this statement the assured entered his purchases without 
deducting trade discounts or adding freight and drayage, carry¬ 
ing a separate account for each of these items. Also, yearly 
inventories were taken without allowing for any depreciation. 

Where there is no inventory or other accounts, then the 
assured with the assistance of his employees, or in any other 
way he may find possible, must prepare a memorized inventory 
and supply such details of sales as possible, these in conjunction 
with bank deposits and withdrawals and duplicate bills of 
purchases will provide an adjuster with some basis to work on, 
and by taking into consideration the area of the floor, counter 
and shelf space, class of merchandise carried, location and class 
of customers and such other conditions it is possible to arrive 
at a reasonably fair value of merchandise on hand at the time 
of a fire, but much judgment and care must be exercised, a 
very liberal deduction must be made for over-estimates in the 
memorized inventory, and increase in sales must be made for 
same reason. In a case of this character the perspicacity and 
level-headedness of the adjuster are prime factors in seeing that 
the company does not largely overpay the assured for his loss. 
Such statements of the assured are very apt to be accepted by 
the courts under the conditions. 

All trade discounts, whether the assured has taken advantage 
of them or not, must be deducted from the cost ot purchases. 

Freight and drayage must be added to the net cost of the 
merchandise. 

In wholesale stocks statements the question of merchandise 
out in care of traveling salesmen must be considered and de¬ 
ducted from the stock on hand. 

In country stores statements the question of merchandise 
which may be out on peddlers’ wagons, or merchandise used by 
the assured and his family, merchandise delivered on exchange 
accounts must be carefully looked into, for these items may make 
considerable difference in a final statement of stock on hand at 
the time of a fire. 

In a manufacturing plant the items of labor, fuel, water, heat, 
light, power and other fixed charges are legitimate items of 
charge to be added to the merchandise account. 


85 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 

SAMPLE STATEMENT OF LOSS. 


Buildings: 

Sound value and loss and damage as per 
agreement between Assured and Adjusters 
based upon detailed estimates of Joseph Hursh, 
Builder—as follows: 

Item No. i of Policy—Building No. i.... 

Building No. 2... . 
Building No. 3. .. . 
Fences and Walks.. 
Item No. 5 of Policy—Building No. 4. .. 
Item No. 7 of Policy—Building No. 6. . . 
Item No. 10 of Policy—Building No. 8... 
Item No. 13 of Policy—Building No. 9. . . 
Item No. 17 of Policy—Building No. 10. .. 
Item No. 20 of Policy—Building No. 12. .. 
Item No. 23 of Policy—Building No. 13... 
Item No. 26 of Policy—Building No. 14. . . 
Item No. 32 of Policy—Building No. 16... 
Item No. 41 of Policy—Building No. 19... 

Totals. 


Value. Loss. 


$33,5°° -°° $442.63 

400.00 . 


9* 2 97 • 53 
595 - 0 ° 
3,500.00 
1,392.90 
1 , 044-35 
9,041.97 
1,846.37 
10,416.00 
13,000.00 
600.00 
198.05 
1,000.00 


8 , 7 o 5-37 
115-93 
638.58 
1,392.90 
1 , 044-35 
9,041.97 
1,846.37 
10,416.00 
205.21 

558.11 

198.05 
02.63 


$86,332.17 


$34,698.10 


Machinery : 

Sound value and loss and damage as agreed 
in detail between Assured and Adjusters. 
Agreement based upon itemized inventory of 
December 31st, 1903 and books, verified: 

Item No. 2 of Policy—Building No. 1-3. 
Item No. 8 of Policy—Building No. 6.. 

Item No. 11 of Policy—Building No. 8.. 

Item No. 14 of Policy—Building No. 9. . 

Item No. 18 of Policy—Building No. 10.. 
Item No. 21 of Policy—Building No. 12.. 

• Item No. 27 of Policy—Building No. 14.. 

Totals. 


$96,129.00 
621.16 

1,832.75 

30 , 743 .15 
753-87 
8,217.41 
5 o 6 - 5 ° 


$138,803.84 


$14,134.65 

621.16 

1,132.75 

22,893.15 

678.81 

7,442.41 

157.00 


$ 47 , 059-93 


Patterns: 

Sound value and loss as per Claim in detail 


by Assured as follows: 

Item No. 3 of Policy— 

Buildings Nos. 1-3. $555-25 

Deduct in compromise. 185.08 


Item No. 15 of Policy— 

Building No. 9. $858.25 

Deduct in compromise. 286.08 


_ , , . . $572.17 

Deduct value remaining. 50.00 


Totals 


$ 37 o.i 7 


$ 37 o.i 7 


' 572.17 


$942.34 


522.17 

$892.34 





86 
































PROOF OF LOSS. 


SAMPLE STATEMENT OF LOSS-Continued. 


Stock: 

Sound value per books of Assured based 
upon detailed inventory of January ist, 1905, 
loss and damage as agreed in detail between 
Assured and Adjusters: 

Item No. 4 of Policy—Building No. 1-3. . 

Item No. 9 of Policy—Building No. 6. . 

Item No. 12 of Policy—Building No. 8.. 

Item No. 16 of Policy—Building No. 9.. 

Item No. 19 of Policy—Building No. 10.. 

Item No. 22 of Policy—Building No. 12. . 

Totals. 

Grand Totals. 


Value. 

Loss. 

$97,261.49 
7,800.52 

1,171.88 
59,822.13 
18,581.88 

51,63987 

$ 3 . 353 - 9 S 

5,011.99 

433-75 
5 2,322.13 
16,081.88 
50,639.87 

$236,277.77 

$127,843.60 

$462,356.12 

$210,493-97 


SUMMARY. 


Item of Policy. 

Value. 

Loss. 

Insurance. 

Claim. 

ist Item. 

$ 43 , 792-53 

$9,263.93 

$26,831.25 

$9,263.93 

2d Item. 

96,129.00 

14,134-65 

89 , 437 - 5 o 

14,134-65 

3d Item. 

37 o.i 7 

370.17 

894.38 

370.17 

4th Item. 

97,261.49 

3,353 98 

53,662.50 

3 , 353-98 

5th Item. 

3,500.00 

638.58 

1,788.75 

638.58 

7th Item. 

1,392.90 

1,392.90 

894.37 

894.37 

8th Item. 

621.16 

62 T . 16 

447 18 

447 -18 

9th Item. 

7,800.52 

5,011.99 

5,366.25 

5,011.99 

10th Item. 

1 , 044-35 

1 , 044-35 

7 i 5 - 5 o 

715-50 

nth Item. 

1,832.75 

i,i 32-75 

894-37 

894-37 

12th Item. 

1,171.88 

433-75 

894.38 

433-75 

13th Item. 

9,041.97 

9,041 -97 

4,471.88 

4 , 47 i -88 

14th Item. 

30,743 • J 5 

22,893.15 

13,415-62 

13,41562 

15th Item. 

572.17 

522.17 

894.38 

522.17 

16th Item. 

59.822.13 

52,322.13 

53,662.50 

52,322.13 

17th Item. 

1,846.37 

1,846.37 

i, 34 i -57 

i, 34 i -57 

18th Item. 

753-87 

678.81 

447.18 

447 -18 

19th Item. 

18,581.88 

16,081.88 

10,732.50 

10,732.50 

20th Item. 

10,916.00 

10,416.00 

8,049.38 

8,049.38 

2 ist Item. 

8,217.41 

7 , 442.41 

6,260.62 

6,260.62 

2 2d Item. 

51,639.87 

50,639.87 

40,246.86 

40,246.86 

23d Item. 

13,000.00 

205.21 

7 , 155 - 0 ° 

205.21 

26th Item. 

600.00 

558.11 

402.45 

402.45 

27th Item. 

506.50 

157.00 

268.31 

157.00 

32d Item. 

198.05 

198.05 

89-43 

89 43 

41st Item. 

1,000.00 

9263 

53664 

92.63 

All /-v fV. Arp 



27 , 949-25 


Ail oiners. 




Totals. 

$462,356.12 

$ 210 , 493-97 

$ 357 , 750-00 

$174,915.10 


87 

























































SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK, 


SAMPLE STATEMENT OF LOSS. 

Fire , January 20 , 1907 . 

Sound value per book statement by departments. Loss and damage 
based upon itemized inventories, in each, of goods badly damaged by 
water, and agreed to in detail, as follows: 


Depart¬ 

ment. 


3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

1 3 

14 

15 

16 
•17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 


Stock. 


Dress Goods, Linings. 

Hosiery, Underwear. 

* Millinery. 

Cloaks, Suits, Waists. 

Men’s Clothing. 

Shoes. 

Corsets, Infants’ Underwear. 

Groceries. 

Domestics. 

Gloves. 

Housefurnishings. 

Glass and China. 

Toys. 

Carpets, Rugs... 

Beds, Curtains. 

Books. 

Ribbons and Laces. 

Dress Trimmings. 

Wall Paper, Moulding, Shades. 

Silks and Velvets. 

Wash Goods, Flannels, Blankets... . 

Notions, Umbrellas, Jewelry. 

Drugs, Sundries. 

Men’s Furnishings. 

Ladies’ Neckwear and Handkerchiefs 

Pictures and Fancy Work. 

Medallions. 

Amount allowed for smoke and 
damage by water on goods not 
inventoried, and for labor in con¬ 
ditioning goods after fire, in com¬ 
promise settlement. 

Expense paid out for temporary 
repairs to protect stock. 


Value. 

Loss. 

$9,004.79 

$280.12 

6,946.94 

5.00 

3,402.82 

712.83 

12,030.25 

3 ,i 35 '- 9 8 

5,042.68 

546.09 

5,251.08 

158.05 

9,724.81 

2,913.40 

*6,134 • 35 

292.54 

4,048.99 

109.22 

5,034.69 

57 - 5 i 

6.631.39 

380.14 

8,804.51 

450-72 

1,248.33 


17,321 -95 

2 , 97 i -45 

6,257.22 

1,285.31 

2,877.28 

i ,437 48 

6,344.00 

306.07 

1,308.92 

84-37 

7,803.45 

5,720.09 

6,895.91 

512.82 

13,183.18 

368.49 

10,022.92 

507.08 

3,762.73 


3,663.25 

40.00 

3 A 390 I 

45.00 

2,633.50 

335-12 

28.14 



2,033.41 


168.56 


$178,847.09 


Totals 


$24,856.85 












































CHAPTER 7. 


RULES AND TABLES ON BUILDING LOSSES 


The measure of loss and damage is the “actual cash value, 
“with proper deductions for depreciation, however caused, and 
“shall in no event exceed what it would then cost the insured 
“to repair or replace the same with material of like kind and 
“quality.” There are two ways of arriving at the value of a 
building, one by the cubical contents rule and the other by 
detailed figuring, the former giving only an approximate value, 
while the latter will, of course, give the actual value. 

Cubical Contents Rule. —This method is not advised 
except where the insurance to value is not more than approx¬ 
imately 75%, or in States having a valued policy law relating 
to buildings and where the building is a total loss. 

Rule. —Ascertain the average length and width of the ground 
plan of the building and multiply it by the average height, 
all in feet, and the product will be the cubic contents in feet; 
multiply this by the cost per cubic foot of the class of building 
being figured on; where the value of the foundation is not to be 
considered, either on account of its being specifically eliminated 
in the form, or on account of a State law the height measure¬ 
ment begins at the top of the foundation, otherwise at the. 
bottom of the foundation. The cost per cubic foot fluctuates 
with the price of material and labor and will vary in different 
parts of the country at the same time; hence the following 
tables of cubic foot value must be adapted to the location and 
conditions existing where the building is located. 


COST PER CUBIC FOOT. 

Dwellings, frame, ordinary, without plumbing. 

Dwellings, frame, good, with plumbing.... 

Dwellings, frame, extra good, with plumbing. 

Dwellings, brick, ordinary, without plumbing. 

Dwellings, brick, good, with plumbing... 

Dwellings, brick, extra good, with plumbing. 

Flat Houses of similar construction to the above will run from 
£ to f cent more per cubic foot. 

Buildings of the above classes and built of stone and with elaborate 
decorations, and finished both inside and outside, will run from 
3 to 10 cents more per cubic foot. 

Buildings of the above classes in the country and in the outlying 
manufacturing section of a city are generally of a cheaper class 
of construction and will only figure at from 4 to 8 cents for 
frame and 7 to 10 cents for brick. 

Store Buildings, frame, country, ordinary (where not painted 
1 cent less).... 


Cents. 

6 to 8 
9 to 11 

11 to 14 
8 to 10 

10 to 13 

12 to 16 


5 to 8 


89 











SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Store Buildings, brick, country, ordinary. 8 to io 

Store Buildings, brick, city, good (with stone fronts or sides % to 

■J cent more). 7 to 9 

Store Buildings, brick, city, slow burning. 10 to 12 

Warehouse Buildings of same class as above Store Buildings will 
run about 2 cents less per cubic foot. 

Fireproof Buildings of Steel Frames, Brick Walls, Fire Partitions, 

Elevators, Plumbing, Lighting, Plain Finish: 

8 to 14 stories. 28 to 35 

14 to 20 stories. 42 to 60 

With Marble Finish, Carving, and exceptional finish will run to 65 

COST OF SOME SPECIFIC FIREPROOF BUILDINGS PER 

CUBIC FOOT. 


/ 

Located. 

Building. 

Built. 

Cost. 

Chicago. 

Rookery, 11 stories, iron and steel interior, 
10 passenger elevators. 


Cents. 


1893 

32 

42 

Chicago. 

Monadnock, 16 stories, rich marble work. 
Masonic Temple, 20 stories, 14 passenger 

elevators, rich marble work. 

Borden Block. 

Chicago. 


Chicago. 

1891 

1893 

58 

IS 

33 

36 

60 

Chicago. 

Stock Exchange. 

Chicago. 

Auditorium.... 

Boston. 

New England Mutual Life, granite. 

Chamber of Commerce. 


Boston. 

1892 
1891 

1893 

32 

32 

46 

30 to 60 
2 K 

Boston. 

Exchange Building. 

New York. 

Herald Building, 200 x 140 feet, 2 stories 
and attir, damp-proof basement. 

New York. 

6 to io-story Office Buildings. 

St. Louis. 

Wainwright, 10 stories. 


St. Louis. 

Union Trust, 14 stories. 


28 

Denver. 

Equitable Life, 9 stories, first floor marble 
wainscoted 9 feet high. 




42 

Denver. 

Ernest & Cranmer, 8 stories, pressed brick 
fronts. 




17 

63 

39 

San Francisco.. 
Cincinnati. 

Crocker, 10 stories, steel skeletoned. 

Traction. 

T OO 2 

Cincinnati. 

First National Bank. 

1 y'-'o 

1001 

Cincinnati. 

Chamber of Commerce. 

1 y v T 

26 

35 

Memphis. 

Memphis Trust. 

1905 


DETAILED ESTIMATE. 

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT FOR MASONS’ WORK. 

Concrete Foundation. Cubic Foot. 

Concrete Floors. Superficial Foot. 

Dimensions Stone Footings. Superficial Foot. 

Rubble Work.. Cubic Foot. 

Brick Work, common. 1,000 Bricks. 

Brick Work, pressed. Superficial Foot. 

Tuckpointing. Superficial Foot. 

Clearing Points. Superficial Foot. 

Plastering, plain. Superficial Yard. 

Plastering, cornices, surface dressing. Running and Superficial Foot. 

Brick Work. —Bricks vary in dimensions, the general sizes 
being 2"x 4"x 8 " and 2"x 4"x 8 £", and in different sections of 



90 

























































RULES AND TABLES ON BUILDING LOSSES. 


the country the number of bricks in a wall will therefore vary. 
An ordinary brick measuring 2"x 4"x 8*" is equal to 66 cubic 
inches, or 26.2 brick to a cubic foot. The average weight is 
about 4* pounds. 

TABLE OF BRICK IN WALLS OF DIFFERENT THICK- 

NESS. 

The following is the general table. In Chicago the table 
varies, as it does in some other sections. 





Thickness of Walls. 


SuDerficies 






of Wall. 


4% Ins. or 

9 Ins. or 

13 Ins. or 

18 Ins. or 

22 Ins. or 

Feet. Inches. 

* Brick. 

1 Brick. 

1* Bricks. 

2 Bricks. 

2* Bricks. 

0 

6 

3 * 

7 

10* 

14 


X 

0 

7 

14 

21 

28 

35 

1 

6 

10* 

21 

3 i* 

42 

5 2 i 

2 

0 

14 

28 

42 

56 

70 

2 

6 


35 

52 * 

70 

87 * 

-i 

0 

21 

42 

63 

84 

105 

0 

3 

6 

24 * 

49 

7 3 * 

98 

122* 

4 

0 

28 

56 

84 

112 

140 

4 

6 

3 1 * 

63 

94 $ 

126 

i 57 * 

5 

l 

0 

35 

70 

105 

140 

175 

6 

38* 

77 

“ 5 $ 

154 

192* 

0 

42 

84 

126 

168 

210 

6 

6 

45 * 

9 1 

136* 

182 

227* 

7 

7 

8 

0 

49 

98 

147 

196 

245 

6 

5 2 i 

i °5 

157 * 

210 

262* 

0 

56 

112 

168 

224 

280 

8 

6 

59 i 

119 

178* 

238 

297 * 

0 

0 

63 

126 

189 

252 

3 15 

y 

9 

6 

66* 

i 33 

199^ 

266 

33 2 i 

10 

0 

70 

140 

210 

280 

35 ° 

15 

0 

105 

210 

3 i 5 

420 

5 2 5 

20 

0 

140 

280 

420 

560 

700 

30 

0 

210 

420 

630 

840 

i,° 5 ° 

40 

0 

280 

560 

840 

1,120 

1,400 

50 

60 

0 

35 ° 

700 

1,050 

1,400 

i, 75 o 

0 

420 

840 

1,260 

1,680 

2,100 

70 

0 

490 

980 

i, 47 ° 

1,960 

2 , 45 ° 

80 

0 

560 

1,120 

1,680 

2,240 

2,800 

90 

100 

0 

630 

1,260 

1,890 

2,520 

3 > I 5 ° 

0 

700 

1,400 

2,100 

2,800 

3 , 5 oo 

200 

0 

1,400 

2,800 

4,200 

5,600 

7,000 

300 

400 

0 

2,100 

2,800 

4,200 

6,300 

8,400 

10,500 

0 

5,600 

8,400 

11,200 

14,000 

500 

600 

0 

0 

3 » 5 °° . 
4,200 

7,000 

8,400 

10,500 

12,600 

14,000 

16,800 

i 7 , 5 oo 

21,000 

700 

0 

4,900 

9,800 

14,700 

19,600 

24,500 

800 

0 

5,600 

11,200 

16,800 

22,400 

28,000 

900 

0 

6,300 

12,600 

18,900 

25,200 

31,500 

1,000 

0 

7,000 

14,000 

21,000 

28,000 

35 >ooo 


91 




















SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Thickness of Walls. 


of Wall. 

Feet. Inches. 

26 Ins. or 

3 Bricks. 

30 Ins. or 
3^ Bricks. 

35 Ins. or 

4 Bricks. 

39 Ins. or 
4 $ Bricks. 

44 Ins. or 

5 Bricks. 

0 

6 

21 

24 i 

28 

3 i£ 

35 

1 

0 

42 

49 

56 

63 

7 o 

1 

6 

63 

7 3 * 

84 

94 i 

105 

2 

0 

84 

98 

112 

126 

140 

2 

6 

i °5 

122^ 

140 

i 57 i 

i 75 

3 

0 

126 

147 

168 

189 

210 

3 

6 

147 

i 7 i£ 

196 

220^ 

245 

4 

0 

168 

196 

224 

252 

280 

4 

6 

189 

220^ 

252 

283^ 

3 i 5 

5 

0 

210 

245 

280 

3 i 5 

35 ° 

5 

6 

231 

269^ 

308 

346 ^ 

385 

6 

0 

252 

294 

336 

378 

420 

6 

6 

273 

3 i 8 £ 

364 

409^ 

455 

7 

0 

294 

343 

392 

• 441 

49 ° 

7 

6 

3 1 5 

367 i 

420 

472 $ 

525 

8 

0 

336 

392 

448 

504 

560 

8 

6 

357 

416^ 

476 

535 * 

595 

9 

0 

378 

441 

504 

567 

630 

9 

6 

399 

465 i 

532 

59 8 ^ 

665 

10 

0 

420 

490 

560 

630 

700 

iS 

0 

630 

735 

840 

945 

1,050 

20 

0 

840 

980 

1,120 

1,260 

1,400 

30 

0 

1,260 

1,470 

1,680 

1,890 

1,100 

40 

0 

1,680 

1,960 

2,240 

2,520 

1,800 

50 

0 

2,100 

2,450 

2,800 

3,150 

3 , 5 oo 

60 

0 

2,520 

2,940 

3 , 36 o 

3 , 78 o 

4,200 

70 

0 

2,940 

3 , 43 ° 

3,920 

4 , 4 io 

4,900 

80 

0 

3 » 36 o 

3,920 

4,480 

5 ,o 4 o 

5,600 

90 

0 

3 , 78 o 

4,410 

5,040 

5,670 

6,300 

100 

0 

4,200 

4,900 

5,6oo 

6,300 

7,000 

200 

0 

8,400 

9,800 

11,200 

12,600 

14,000 

300 

0 

12,600 

14,700 

16,800 

18,900 

21,000 

400 

0 

16,800 

19,600 

22,400 

25,200 

28,000 

500 

0 

21,000 

24,500 

28,000 

3 i, 5 oo 

35 , 00 ° 

600 

0 

25,200 

29,400 

33,6oo 

37,800 

42,000 

700 

0 

29,400 

34 , 3 oo 

39,2oo 

44,100 

49,000 

800 

0 

33 , 6 oo 

39,200 

44,800 

50,400 

56,000 

900 

0 

37,8oo 

44,100 

50,400 

56,700 

63,000 

1,000 

0 

42,000 

49 , 3 oo 

56,000 

63,000 

70,000 


Five courses of brick will lay one foot in height on a chimney; 
nine bricks in a course will make a flue eight inches wide and 
twenty inches long, and eight bricks in a course will make a 
flue eight inches wide and sixteen inches long. 

Stone Work — Measured by the perch, a unit of cubic 
measure usually i6£'xi£'xi', 24£ cubic feet; there is no standard 
to the perch, it being taken to indicate as low as i6£ cubic feet 
and as high as 24J cubic feet; 22 cubic feet is used in some 
places, hence the number of cubic feet in use will have to be 
found out at the location of the loss. 












RULES AND TABLES ON BUILDING LOSSES . 


Plastering is of two kinds, “ceiling,” which is laid upon 
laths, and ‘ ‘ rendering, ’ ’ which is laid directly upon walls without 
any furring. This is all figured by the superficial yard; plas¬ 
tering directly on walls costs less than on laths. Cornice and 
fancy plastering is measured by the “running” and also by the 
superficial foot. 

TABLE OF BOARD MEASUREMENTS. 


Size 


Length in Feet. 


Inches. 

IO 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

22 

24 

26 

28 

3° 

2 #x 4 

6| 

8 


iol 

12 

i3i 

I4f 

16 

i7i 

181 

20 

2 

x 6 

IO 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

22 

24 

26 

28 

3° 

2 

x 8 

137 

16 

181 

21I 

24 

2 61 

2 9b 

32 

34l 

37i 

40 

2 

X IO 

i6| 

20 

23i 

261 

3° 

33i 

361 

40 

43i 

46I 

5° 

2 

X 12 

20 

24 

28 

32 

36 

40 

44 

48 


56 

60 

2 

x 14 

23 b 

28 

32! 

37 b 

42 

461 


56 

60I 

65i 

70 

2 

x 16 

26 b 

32 

3 7i 

42I 

48 

53i 

5«1 

64 

69$ 

74f 

80 

2 b 

X 12 

25 

3° 

35 

40 

45 

5° 

55 

60 

6 5 

70 , 

7S , 

2 b X 14 

29 b 

35 

401 

46! 

52I 

5»i 

64* 

70 

75l 

81I 

871 

2* 

x 16 

33b 

40 

46! 

53i 

60 

661 

73i 

80 

861 

93i 

100 

3 

x 6 

15 

18 

21 

24 

27 

3° 

33 

36 

39 

42 

45 

3 

x 8 

20 

24 

28 

32 

36 

40 

44 

48 

52 

56 

60 

3 

X IO 

25 

3° 

35 

40 

45 

50 

55 

60 

65 

70 

75 

3 

X 12 

3° 

36 

42 

48 

54 : 

60 

66 

72 

78 

84 

90 

3 

x 14 

35 

42 

49 

56 

63 

70 

77 

84 

9 1 

98 

105 

3 

x 16 

40 

48 

56 

64 

72 

80 

88 

96 

104 

112 

120 

4 

x 4 

13^ 

16 

181 

21! 

24 

2 61 

29i 

32 

34f 

37i 

4c 

4 

x 6 

20 

24 

28 

32 

36 

40 

44 

48 

52 

56 

6c 

4 

x 8 

26 b 

32 

377 

42I 

48 

53i 

5 H 

64 

69 b 

74b 

8c 

4 

X IO 

33% 

40 

46! 

53* 

60 

661 

73b 

80 

861 

93b 

IOC 

4 

X 12 

40 

48 

56 

64 

72 

80 

88 

96 

104 

112 

12C 

4 

x 14 

46 b 

56 

65i 

74f 

84 

93$ 

102! 

112 

121I 

1 3°b 

14° 

6 

x 6 

3° 

36 

42 

48 

54 

60 

66 

72 

78 

84 

90 

6 

x 8 

40 

48 

56 

64 

72 

80 

88 

96 

104 

112 

120 

6 

X IO 

50 

60 

7°. 

80 

90 

100 

no 

120 

130 

140 

x 5° 

6 

X 12 

60 

72 

84 

96 

108 

120 

132 

144 

156 

168 

180 

6 

x 14 

70 

84 

98 

112 

126 

140 

i54 

168 

182 

196 

210 

6 

x 16 

80 

96 

112 

128 

144 

160 

176 

192 

208 

224 

240 

8 

x 8 

53I 

64 

74f 


96 

106! 

n7i 

128 

i3 8 f 

1493 

l6o 

8 

X IO 

66 b 

80 

93b 

io6| 

120 

x 33& 

146! 

160 

i73i 

i86f 

200 

8 

X 12 

80 

96 

112 

128 

144 

160 

176 

192 

208 

224 

240 

8 

x 14 

9 3I 

112 

i3°f 

1493 

168 

186I 

205I 

224 

242I 

261I 

280 

IO 

X IO 

83I 

100 

116I 

i33i 

150 

1661 

183I 

200 

216I 

233i 

25O 

IO 

X 12 

100 

120 

140 

160 

180 

200 

220 

240 

260 

280 

3 OO 

IO 

x 14 

n6f 

140 

163I 

1861 

210 

233^ 

256! 

280 

303 b 

326I 

35° 

IO 

x 16 

1 33^ 

160 

1861 

21 3 b 

240 

266I 

293i 

320 

3461 

373i 

400 

12 

X 12 

120 

144 

168 

192 

216 

240 

264 

288 

312 

33 6 

360 

12 

X 14 

140 

168 

196 

224 

252 

280 

3°8 

336 

364 

392 

420 

12 

X 16 

160 

192 

224 

256 

288 

320 

352 

3 8 4 

416 

448 

480 

TA 

X 14 

163$ 

196 

2281 

261I 

294 

326I 

359f 

392 

424I 

457i 

490 

■ L *r 

14 

X 16 

1861 

224 

261I 

298I 

336 

3 73b 

4i°l 

448 

485i 

522I 

560 


03 






















SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Joists, Studding, Etc. —To find number of pieces in a given 
space, if set 16 inches to center, take three-fourths the number 
of feet, or if set 24 inches to center, take one-half the number 
of feet (adding one in each case, to start with) will give number 
of pieces required; reduce all to board measure. 

Rafters. —Are usually set 24 inches to center. Follow 
same rule, adding for projections, if any. Gables, same rule. 
To find length of rafter add projections to span and if £ pitch, 
multiply span by .559; if h pitch, multiply span by .071; if 
£ pitch, multiply span by .006; if f pitch, multiply span by 
.008; if | pitch, multiply span by . 625; if £ pitch, multiply span 
by .009- Example: 20 foot span f pitch 2ox.625 equals 12£ 
feet: you will have to estimate on 14 feet length as you cannot 
buy 12 J or 13 feet lengths. 

This will give length of rafter, then reduce to board measure. 

On account of lap and matching one-fifth more siding and 
flooring must be allowed than what is shown by the measured 
surfaces. 

Laths. —1,000 will cover 70 square yards of surface, as laid. 
ROOFING. 

All materials are measured by the “square," 100 square feet. 

Shingles. 

Laid 4 inches to the weather, one “square” will contain approximately 1,000 
Laid 4^ inches to the weather, one “square” will contain approximately 900 
Laid s inches to the weather, one “square” will contain approximately 800 

Rule for finding number of shingles laid 5 inches to the weather. 
Find the number of superficial inches in one side of the roof and 
cut off the right-hand figure in the product and the result will 
be the number of shingles in the entire roof, both sides. 

To ascertain the number of shingles required to cover a given 
space of roof, multiply the length of the roof across by the 
length of both rafters from eave' to eave; divide this product 
by the square inches contained in the average shingle (ordi¬ 
narily 27); the result will be the number needed, allowance being 
made for the first double course. The “square of the shingle" 
is the space exposed to the weather, varying from 4 to 5 inches 
in length; this multiplied by the average breadth, 6 inches, 
gives results as follows: 4X6 = 24 square inches; 4^X6 = 27 
square inches; 5X6=30 square inches; average, 27 inches. 

Or, as shingles are frequently laid “by the square," to ascer¬ 
tain the number of squares in a roof of given dimensions, divide 
the total square inches of the roof by 14,400 (the number of 
inches in the square of 100). To ascertain the number of 
shingles in a square of 100 feet, divide 14,400 by the square of 
the shingle (27 ordinarily). 


94 


RULES AND TABLES ON BUILDING LOSSES. 


Shingles vary in length, but are counted as averaging 6 inches 
in width. They are either rived, shaved, or sawed. The 
customary lengths are 16, 18, 20, and 24 inches. They are 
usually put up in bundles of 250, or quarter-thousands, each. 
The best are of clear pine shaved; the poorest are the ordinary 
spruce rived or split. The highest priced are the long and extra 
wide cypress. 

Roofing Slate. 

To find the number of slate required for a “square," sub¬ 
tract 3 inches from the length of the slate and multiply the 
remainder by the width and divide the product by 2; then 
divide 14,400 (the number of square inches in a “square”) by 
the number so found and the result will be the number of slates 
required. 

TABLE OF SLATES PER SQUARE. 


Size of Slate 
in Inches. 

Number of 
Pieces. 

Size of Slate 
in Inches. 

Number of 
Pieces. 

6x12 

533 

7 x 14 

374 

7x12 

457 

8 x 14 

327 

8x12 

400 

9 X 14 

291 

9x12 

355 

10 x 14 

261 


Roofing Tin. 


The sheets are of various sizes and thickness or grade; the 
customary roofing sizes are 10" x 14" and 14" x 20", and grades 


I. C. and I. X. 


I. C. charcoal. 

I. C. coke. 

I. X. charcoal. 

I. C. charcoal. 

I. X. charcoal. 

I. C. charcoal, terne 

I. C. coke. 

I. C. coke, terne 


10 x 14, box 225 sheets 
10 x 14, box 225 sheets. 
10 x 14, box 225 sheets. 
10 x 20, box 225 sheets. 
14x20, box 112 sheets. 
14x20, box 112 sheets. 
14x20, box 112 sheets. 
14x20, box 112 sheets. 


The measurement, when laid, is the same as for shingles for 
exposed surface. 

Roofing Paper or Felt comes in rolls about 2 feet wide and 
containing 500 square feet. 

Wall Paper. —Superficial area divided by 60 will give the 
number of double rolls needed, or divided by 35 the number of 
single rolls required. 

Painting is figured by the square yard. One gallon of 
mixed paint will cover with one coat 40 to 50 square yards 


95 

















SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


of surface on a frame building; for a brick building io to 15% 
should be added to the above, according to the roughness, etc., 
of the surface to be covered. 


Sheet Lead. —Used for roofing, gutters, lining tanks, etc., 
varies in weight according to thickness. 

Vis inch thick weighs. 3.71 pounds to square foot. 

4 inch thick weighs. 7.42 pounds to square foot. 

f inch thick weighs. 14.83 pounds to square foot. 

The last two thicknesses are those commonly used for the 
purposes named. 

Nails. —The term penny (d.) used in designating the various 
sizes of nails originated in the early days when nails were made 
by hand only and the different sizes were sold by the count 
at so many pennies per hundred nails. 

30 pounds to 1,000 feet of lumber. 50 pounds of 4 d. or 
3f pounds of 3 d. will lay 1,000 shingles. 11 pounds of lath 
nails or 5^ pounds of 3 d. (4 to each lath) to 1,000 laths. 

3d. nails are 1 inch long and average 557 to the pound. 

4d. nails are if inches long and average 535 to the pound. 

5d. nails are if inches long and average 282 to the pound. 

6d. nails are 2 inches long and average 177 to the pound. 

7d. nails are 2f inches long and average 141 to the pound. 

8d. nails are 2^ inches long and average 101 to the pound, 

iod. nails are 2f inches long and average 68 to the pound. 

12d. nails are 3 inches long and average 54 to the pound. 

2od. nails are 3^ inches long and average 34 to the pound. 

Glazing is computed in square feet. In measuring windows 
the cross-bars are included. Round or oval windows measure 
as square by their greatest length and breadth, to compensate 
for waste in cutting the glass. 



WINDOW GLASS. 


7x 9. 


14 x 20. 

. . 26 panes in a box. 

8 x 10. 


16x20. 

.. 23 panes in a box. 

10 x 12. 

... 60 panes in a box. 

18 x 20. 

20 panes in a box. 

12 x 14. 


20 X 24. 

.. 15 panes in a box. 

14 X 16. 

... 32 panes in a box. 

24 X 30. 

. 10 panes in a box. 

The number of panes in a box make 

50 square feet of glass. 


96 
















RULES AND TABLES ON BUILDING LOSSES. 

FRAME DWELLING CONSTRUCTION. 




A—Ridge Board. 
D—Collar Beam. 
G—Posts. 

J—Floor Joists. 
M—Door Frame; 


B—Roof Rafters. 
E—Queen Posts. 
H—Girt. 

K—Studding. 

N—Sills. 


C—King Post. 

F— Plate. 

I—Braces. 

L—Siding. 

W—Window Frame. 


97 















































SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


BARN CONSTRUCTION. 



B—Posts. 

E—Purline Posts. 
H—Beams. 

J—Purline Plates. 


A—Sills. 

D—Girts. 

G—Rafters. 


C—Plates. 

F—Collar Beam. 
I—Braces. 


























RULES AND TABLES ON BUILDING LOSSES. 


y 

O C 

o 

—pa- 

c 

QQ 

:s 

y 





K 


-CD —— 


f 




j & 

Q 

O 


\ 


ca - 

y 


> ) 


> A 


i > > 


99 


■Sills. B—Posts. C—Plates. D—Girts. E—Purline Posts. 

Collar Beam. G—Rafters. H—Beams. I—Braces. J—Purline Plates. 





















SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


Repair Work. —This will cost from 25 to 50% more than 
for new work. 

In making a detailed estimate of the cost of a building the 
following items are the principal ones and must be considered: 
sills, joists, posts, plates, beams, girts, braces, studding, rafters, 
laths, roof boards and sheathing, common boards, flooring, 
siding, moulding, ceiling boards, finished lumber, doors, win¬ 
dows, window blinds, roofing material, window and door glass, 
plastering, painting, spouting, chimneys, mantles, nails, hard¬ 
ware, outside porches, stairs, thousands of bricks in walls, 
stone window sills, lintels, stone or iron caps, foundation, paper¬ 
ing, all labor charges, plumbing work. 


roo 


CHAPTER 8. 


RULES AND TABLES ON CONTENTS LOSSES. 


The struck measure is made even with top of the measure. 

The heap measure must be heaped up in the form of a cone 
as high as the measure will permit, with the outside of the 
measure as the base of the cone. 

The United States Standard Bushel contains 2,150.4 cubic 
inches, 1.2445 cubic feet. 


DRY MEASURE. 

2 pints make 1 quart. 67.2 cubic inches. 

4 quarts make 1 gallon. 268.8 cubic inches. 

2 gallons make 1 peck. 537-6 cubic inches. 

4 pecks make 1 bushel. 2150.4 cubic inches. 

Bushels of Grain in a Bin. —(Short method, practically 
correct:) Deduct one-fifth from the number of cubic feet in 
the bin and the remainder will be the approximate number 
of bushels of grain. (Cofrect method:) Divide the number 
of cubic inches by 2150.4, or the number of cubic feet by 1.2445, 
and the quotient will be the number of bushels. 

Corn. —The cubical contents in feet of a pile of corn on the 
ear multiplied by .63 will give the number of heaped bushels. 
The number of bushels of corn on the ear allowed for a bushel 
of shelled corn varies from one and one-half to two, all depend¬ 
ent upon the size and shape of the ear, etc. Two and a quarter 
cubic feet of good, sound dry com in the ear will make one bushel 
of shelled corn. Dividing the cubical contents in feet by two 
to two and a quarter, according to solidity of pile, will give 
the number of bushels in a pile of shelled corn. 

Apples, Potatoes, Etc. —Cubical contents of pile in feet 
multiplied by eight, and one figure in the product pointed off 
for a decimal, will give the number of bushels. 


101 








SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


LEGAL NUMBER OF POUNDS TO THE BUSHEL. 


*P°D 

3)TDBJX{}UY 

O • • O O • O O NO.0 • 

00 • • 00 00 • 00 00 ..00 

• P 39 S 

J3AOQ 

0 • - 000000 • • 0 0 0 ■ ^O 'tO « - o • 0 0 0 

vO . •vovovO'O'O'O • ■vO'O'O •'O'O'O'O'O •'O •VO'O'O 

•p 3 a S 

SSBJ0 an^a 

2"! ‘ H M H H H M ' !m-h‘ • I I " M M ‘ W ' 

•paag 

1 o« • loiovoioioio • • */•>•*/■>• • 10 • * • 10 *n *o *0 

Tf . • Tf Tf Tf Tf Tfr ^ . . • T* Tf Tf T* 

•paa S xbu 

vO • • vO vO • vO rf *0 • • vO • vO • v> 10 • NO • • Tf vO • vO NO 

10 • • V)iO • 10 Vo • . IO • 10 • lOV) • lo • • rf 10 • to 10 

•sBaj 

VO • 0 0 • • • • 0 0 • 0 • • 0 0 0 0 0 • 0000 • 

Tt* • vO vO • • • • vO vO • vO • • vO vO vO *ovO • vO vO vO vO 

•sueaa 

0 •OOOOOOO’'* - O • 0 0 0 • 0 • -ooooo 

vO «vOvOvOvOvOvOvOno • vO • \0 \0 \0 \0 • vO • vO vO vO vO vO 

•sdtumjL 

• • 0 ■ - moo • oo.O>ow 

• • vo 10 10 • • lOO to • .. no 1 /) -t 

•suotuq 

• 0 1^00 - «N • • O • O *^vO vO N 0 

LO • iOLOLO^flOLOLOLOLOLO • lO • LO • • LO • lO LO. LO LO LO LO 

•saoiBjoa 

133AVS 

i 

O • • lo lo • O O lo • vO vO • • • rf • *0 • * Ov O -NO • 

lo ' • LO LO • Tj* LO LO • LO LO • • • LO • • l/> • •10*0 • LO • 

•saojBjoj 

O - OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO -00000000 
'O •v0'0'0'0'0'0 v 0v0 v 0'0'0 v 0 v 0'0 vO • vO *OvO vO vO 'O vo vO 

'V**W UJO 0 

O - OOO’OOO - OOOOO • - 0 • • O • - 000 • o • 

LO • LO. Tt Tt LO *10*0*0*010 • • *o • • r* • • *o *o *o • *o • 

•qo0 aqj 

UO UJO0 

O • - OOOOOOO • - O.O • - ON - oo 

t^vO NNN • • N.• • ts N • N N 

•UJO0 

papaqg 

• ^000000 *OvO vO O vO vO vO vO vO ^■'OvOvOvOO'OvO vO 

• L0L0*OL0*O*O*O*O*O*OL0LO*O*OLO*O*O *OVO lo *o *o *o *o *o 

•jBaqM^ana 

MOOONMOMO to oo 00 00 « « - OOOOOOO •'OO'OeoO 

iO'j-Tj-uiioioiniouoTt't^ , 't , o • lo-foworh • to to ■<4- to u-> 

•^ap^a 

00 O 00 t'-OO 00 00 00 t'-oo O0 00 O0O0 • 00 00 00 00 *>-00 00 00 00 00 00 

•si^o 

MMNNM 

ro fO to fO (O • tOCOtOtONj-totOfOtOtOtOtOtOtOtOtOfOtOtOtO 

•aiCa 

'O '4-vO'O'O'O'O'O'O O'O'O'OnO'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O 
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to 


oooooooooooooooooooo - o - ooo 

'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O'O -NO • NO NO NO 

States. 

Arkansas . 

California . 

Connecticut . 

Georgia. 

Illinois . 

Indiana . 

Iowa . 

Kansas . 

Kentucky. 

Maine . 

Massachusetts.... 

Michigan. 

Minnesota. 

Missouri. 

New Hampshire.. 

New Jersey. 

New York. 

North Carolina... 

Ohio . 

Pennsylvania . 

Rhode Island . 

South Carolina.. . 

Tennessee . 

Vermont. 

Virginia. 

Wisconsin. 


102 

























































RULES AND TABLES ON CONTENTS LOSSES. 


Rule for approximately ascertaining the car value in a car 
barn with the track feet full of cars: Multiply the track feet 
by 65 for short open cars, by 125 for ordinary type of vestibule 
cars, by 175 for extra type of vestibule cars, and the result will 
be the dollars of value of the cars. 


MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS AND WEIGHTS. 


Materials. 

Weight 

Gross 

Pounds. 

Cubic Feet. 

Weight per 
Cubic Foot 
in Pounds. 

Wool: 




1 bale East India. 

340 

12 . 

28 

1 bale Australian. 

385 

26. 

i 5 

1 bale South American. 

1,000 

482 

34 - 

29 

1 bale Oregon. 

33 - 

i 5 

1 bale California. 

55 ° 

33 - 

i 7 




5 

Cotton : 

1 bale... 

5*5 

44.2 

12 

1 bale compressed. 

55 ° 

21.6 

25 

J ute : 1 bale. 

300 

9.9 

3 ° 

Manilla: i bale. 

280 

10.9 

26 

Hemp : 1 bale. 

700 

34-7 

20 

Sisal: i bale. 

400 

17. 

24 

Rags : 




White Linen, 1 bale. 

910 

39-5 

23 

White Cotton, 1 bale. 

7 i 5 

40. 

18 

Brown Cotton, 1 bale. 

442 

30 . 

15 

Paper Shavings, 1 bale. 

5 ° 7 

34 - 

15 

Sacking, 1 bale. 

• 45 ° 

6 5 - . 

7 

Woolen, 1 bale. 

600 

3 °- 

20 

Jute Butts, 1 bale . 

400 

11.1 

36 

Paper: 



33 

Qtraw T^narrl . 



WJ ritinrr . 

• ’ ’ 


64 

Wra nnimy . 



10 

Manilla . 



37 

Grain : 

165 

•4.2 

39 

Wheat in bags. 

Wheat in bulk, average. 

218 


41 

Flour, barrel on side. 

5-4 

40 

Flour, barrel on end . 

218 

7 -i 

3 1 

Corn in bags . 

X12 

3-6 

3 1 

Cornmeal in barrels . 

218 

5-9 

37 

Oats in bags . 

96 

3-6 

27 

Hay in bale . 

284 

20 . 

14 

Hay, Dederick compressed. .. 

125 

5-25 

24 

Straw, Dederick compressed . 

100 

5-25 

r 9 

Tow, Dederick compressed .. 

i 5 ° 

5-25 

29 

Excelsior, Dederick compr’ed 

100 

5-25 

1 9 

Starch in barrels . 

250 

10.5 

23 

Plaster in barrels . 

325 

6.1 

53 

Lard Oil in barrels . 

422 

12.3 

34 

42 

Rope. 

. .. 


Crockery : 

1,600 


40 


39- 6 

Cask . 

600 

42.5 

14 

Sugar: 



42 

Barrel, granulated. 

3 i 7 

7-5 

Barrel, brown. 

340 

7-5 

45 


103 





























































SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


LINEAR OR LONG MEASURE. 

4 inches make i hand. 

9 inches make i span. 

12 inches make i foot. 

3 feet make i yard, .9144 metres. 

5,280 feet make 1 mile, 1609.315 metres. 

3.2809 feet make 1 metre. 


SQUARE OR SUPERFICIAL AREA MEASURE. 

144 square inches make 1 square foot, .0929 square metres. 

9 square feet make 1 square yard, .8361 square metres. 

4,840 square yards make 1 acre, 43,560 square feet. 

119.6 square yards equal 100 square metres, 1 acre. 


CUBIC OR SOLID MEASURE. 


1,728 

27 

128 

24.75 

35-317 


cubic inches make 1 cubic foot. 

cubic feet make 1 cubic yard, 46,656 cubic inches. 

cubic feet to 1 cord of wood; a pile 4x4x8 feet. 

cubic feet to 1 perch of masonry. 

cubic feet equal 1 cubic metre or stere. 


AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGHT. 

16 drachms make 1 ounce, 437.5 grains, 28.3495 grammes. 

16 ounces make 1 pound, 7,000 grains, 453-59 grammes. 

28 pounds make 1 quarter, 448 ounces, 12.7000 grammes. 

4 quarters make 1 hundredweight, 112 pounds, 50,802 grammes. 

20 hundredweight make 1 “long” ton, 2,240 pounds. 

2,000 pounds make “net” or “short” ton. 

Abbreviations: ozs., ounces; lbs., pounds; qrs., quarters; cwts., hundred¬ 
weights. 


TROY WEIGHT. 

For weighing Gold, Silver and Precious Stones. 

24 grains make 1 pennyweight, 1.555 grammes. 

20 pennyweights make 1 ounce, 480 grains, 31.1 grammes. 

12 ounces make 1 pound, 5,760 grains, 373.24 grammes. 
Abbreviations: dwts., pennyweights; ozs., ounces; lbs., pounds. 

APOTHECARIES’ WEIGHT. 

24 grains make 1 scruple. 

3 scruples make 1 drachm, 60 grains. 

8 drachms make 1 ounce, 480 grains. 

12 ounces make 1 pound, 5,760 grains. 


RELATIONS BETWEEN MEASURES OF WEIGHT. 

437.5 grains Troy equals 1 ounce Avoirdupois. 

•7,000 grains Troy equals 1 pound Avoirdupois. 

1 pound Troy equals .822857 pound Avoirdupois. 

1 pound Avoirdupois equals 1.215278 pounds Troy. 

1 kilogramme equals 2.20462 pounds Avoirdupois. 


104 


RULES AND TABLES ON CONTENTS LOSSES. 


WINE MEASURE. 

The Standard unit for measurement of liquids adopted by 
the United States Custom House is the Wine Gallon of 231 
cubic inches. 

All liquors excepting Milk, Beer and Ale are bought and sold 
by this measurement. 

4 gills make 1 pint. 

2 pints make 1 quart. 

4 quarts make 1 gallon, 8 pints. 

42 gallons make 1 tierce, 168 quarts. 

63 gallons make 1 hogshead, 252 quarts. 

84 gallons make 1 puncheon, 336 quarts. 

126 gallons make 1 pipe, 504 quarts. 

252 gallons make 1 tun, 1,008 quarts. 


ALE AND BEER MEASURE. 

Cider, Vinegar, Beer, Ale, Milk and other cheap articles aje 
sold by this measure. 

2 pints make 1 quart. 

4 quarts make 1 gallon. 

9 gallons make 1 firkin, 36 quarts. 

18 gallons make 1 kilderkin, 72 quarts. 

36 gallons make 1 barrel, 144 quarts. 

54 gallons make 1 hogshead, 216 quarts. 

72 gallons make 1 puncheon, 288 quarts. - 
108 gallons make 1 butt, 432 quarts. 


UNITY TABLE. 

12 units make 1 dozen. 12 dozen make 1 gross. 

20 units make 1 score. 12 gross make 1 great gross. 


PAPER MEASURE. 

24 sheets make 1 quire. 2 reams make x bundle. 

20 quires make 1 ream. 5 bundles make 1 bale.* 


ARCHITECTS’ OR BUILDERS’ MEASURE. 

144 square inches make 1 square foot. 

9 square feet make 1 square yard. 

10 square feet make 1 square (100 square feet). 

Used in measuring surface painting, plastering, brick work, shingles and 
other roofings, or any surface having length and breadth. 

Castings. —To find weight from their patterns. 

For Cast Iron multiply weight of pattern in pounds by 17. 

For Brass multiply weight of pattern in pounds by 18. 

For Copper multiply weight of pattern in pounds by 19. 

For Lead multiply weight of pattern in pounds by 25. 

For Tin multiply weight of pattern in pounds by 14. 

For Zinc multiply weight of pattern in pounds by 13^. 

Hay. —Cubical contents of a hay mow in feet divided by 
512 (new hay) or 412 (old hay) will give the approximate 


105 


SPECIAL AGENTS AND ADJUSTERS HANDBOOK. 


number of tons of hay in the mow. 270 cubic feet of baled 
hay to the ton. 

Ice.—C ubical contents of a pile in feet divided by 35 to 45 
according to solidity, will give the number of tons of ice in the 
pile. 

Coal. —Bituminous: 1 cubic foot weighs 50 to 55 pounds. 
41 to 45 cubic feet weigh 1 ton, gross. Anthracite: 1 cubic 
foot weighs 55 to 66 pounds. 34 to 41 cubic feet weigh x ton, 
gross. 

MISCELLANEOUS WEIGHTS. 

Aluminum: i cubic foot, 162 pounds. 

Brass (Copper and Zinc): 

Cast: 1 cubic foot, approximately, 504 pounds. 

Rolled: 1 cubic foot, 524 pounds. 

Butter: i firkin, 56 pounds. 

Charcoal: 

Hard wood: 1 cubic foot, approximately, 22 pounds. 

Pine: 1 cubic foot, approximately, 18 pounds. 

Clay: 

Potters’ dry: 1 cubic foot, approximately, 119 pounds. 

Dry, in lumps, loose: 1 cubic foot, approximately, 63 pounds. 

Coke: i heaped bushel, loose, 35 to 42 pounds. 

Fish: i quintal, 100 pounds. 

Flour: i barrel, 196 pounds. 

Lard: i cubic foot, approximately, 59 pounds. 

Pork: i barrel, 200 pounds. 

TABLES OF METRIC SYSTEM AS AUTHORIZED BY 
CONGRESS. 


MEASURES OF LENGTHS. 


Metric Denominations and Values. 

Equivalents in Denominations in Use. 

Myriametre.. .' 
Rilnmptre. 

10,000 metres. 

6.2137 miles. 

0.62137 miles, or 3,280 ft., 10 inches. 
328 feet and 1 inch. 

393.7 inches. 

39.37 inches. 

3.937 inches. 

0.3937 inch. 

0.0394 inch. 

1,000 metres. 

Hectometre.... 
Decametre.... 
Metre. 

100 metres. 

10 metres. 

1 metre. 

Decimetre. 

Centimetre.... 
Millimetre.... 

V10 of a metre... 
V100 of a metre... 
V1000 of a metre... 


MEASURES OF SURFACES. 


Metric Denominations and Values. 

Equivalents in Denominations in Use. 

Hectare. 

10,000 square metres 

2.471 acres. 

Are. 

100 square metres 

119.6 square yards. 

Centiare. 

1 square metre. 

1550 square inches. 


I06 






























MEASURES OF CAPACITY. 


RULES AND TABLES ON CONTENTS LOSSES. 


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CO M O H 
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a a s a a 


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107 

































































































* 






















/ 


























INDEX. 


Abandonment of Property. 

Acceptance of Policy subject to its conditions . . . 

Acid Works. 

Actual Cash Value. 

Adjuster, The. 

Agency Work. 

Agency, Visiting an. 

Albany Rule. 

Ale Measure. 

Amount Liable for. 

Amount of Loss, Disagreement as to. 

Amount of Loss, How Determined. 

Annealing Furnaces. 

Anthracite Coal. 

Apothecaries’ Weight.. . . . 

Apples, Contents in a Pile of . .. 

Application Part of Contract. 

Appointing Agents. 

Apportionment of Loss. 

Appraisal. 

Appraisers. 

Appraisers’ Award. 

Architects’ Measure. 

Ashes. 

Assignment of Policy.. 

Automatic Sprinkler Report.. 

Automatic Sprinklers. 

Automatic Sprinklers, Approved. 

Automobile Garages. 

Average (Distribution) Clause. 

Avoirdupois Weight. 

Axes. 

Agents, Relations with Local. 

Agency Supplies, Local. 


PAGE 

75 

39 

14 

70 

60 

5 

6 

83 

10 5 
70 

63 

63 

34 

106 

104 
101 

4 L 49 
11 

83 

63 

63-66 

65 

105 

x 4 > 34 
45 
18 
36 
36 
14 

21 
104 
36 
8 
10 


Bakeries. *4 

Bake Ovens. 34 

Bark Mills. 14 

Barn Construction. 98 

Barrel Factories. x 4 

Beer Measure. io 5 

Benzine. x 4 

Betterments. 21 

Bituminous Coal. x °6 

Blanket Policy . 83 , 

Blankets. 35 

Bleacheries. *4 

Board Measurement. 93 















































INDEX. 


PAGE 

Boilers. 34 

Books of Accounts. 80, 82 

Brazing. 34 

Breweries.' 14 

Brick Work. 9° 

Bricks in Walls, Number of. 91 

Brush Factories. 14 

Buffing. 34 

Builders’ Measure. 105 

Building Plans and Specifications to be furnished . 80 

Bushels of Grain in a Bin. 101 


Cancellation of a Policy. 

Cancellation Table (Cleveland Fire Insurance Exchange) 

Candy Factory. 

Capacity of Round Tanks. 

Care of Property at and After a Fire. 

Carriage Factories. 

Carpet Cleaning. 

Cash Value, Actual . 

Casket Factories.. 

Castings from Patterns, To find Weight of .... 

Celluloid Works. 

Cement Factories.. 

Certificate of Magistrate. 

Certified Copies of Accounts, etc. 

Chemical Extinguishers. 

Clay Workers.. 

Cleaning Works.. 

Clock Factories. 

Coal, Anthracite. 

Coal, Bituminous.. 

Coffee Roasting. 

Coffee Roasting Furnaces. 

Co-Insurance Clause. 

Common Hazard. 

Common Hazards.’.. 

Compromise. 

Concurrent Insurance . 

Conditions and Stipulations of a Policy. 

Confectionery Factories. 

Construction. 

Contents of Pipe in Gallons. 

Contribution and Apportionment of Loss. 

Converters. 

Cooking Ranges. 

Cooper Shops . 

Cordage Works. 

Core Ovens. 

Com in a Pile, Contents of. 

Cost of some Specific Fireproof Buildings. 

Cotton Gins. 

Cotton Mills. 

Crowbars. 

Cubic or Solid Measurement. 

Cubical Contents Rule. 


49 

55 

14 

29 

78 

14 

14 

70 

14 

10 5 
14 
14 

82 
80 
36 
14 
14, 15 
14 

106 
106 

14 

34 

21 

22 
13, 22 

76 

22 


39 

14 

17 

29 

83 


34 

34 

14 

15 
34 




101 

90 

15 

15 

36 

104 

89 


IIO 




















































INDEX. 


Cupolas. 

Currying Shops.. 

Defects and their Remedies, Some . 

Definitions. 

Delivery of a Policy. 

Denial of Liability. 

Depreciation. 

Depreciation, Spaulding’s Table of . 
Depreciation, Tiffany’s Estimates of . 
Detailed Estimates (Building Losses) 

Dilapidated Buildings. 

Direct Loss and Damage. 

Disagreement as to Amount of Loss 

Dry JMeasure. 

Dry Pipe Valves, Approved . . . . 

Dry Powder Extinguishers. 

Dye Works. 

Dyeing. 


PAGE 

34 

33 

21 

22 

6 9 

71 

71 

71 

90 

l6 

39. 40 
6 3 
101 

36 

36 

14, 15 
r 5 


Earned Premium. 22 

Electric Light Circuits. 25 

Enameling. 15 

Examination of an Insured under Oath. 82 

Exposures. 17 


False Swearing. 

Fertilizer Works. 

Filing of Proof of Loss, Time for. 

Fire Marshal Law, States having a. ... . 

Fire Pails.. 

Fire Temperatures . . .. 

Fire Underwriting Profits and Losses . . . 
Fireproof Buildings, Cost of some specific . 

Floor Sweepings. 

Flour Mills. 

Forges.. 

Frame Dwelling Construction. 

Fraud . 

Full Insurance. 

Furniture Factories. 


41 


37 
3 ^ 
3 1 
37 
90 

34 

34 
97 
41, 76 
22 

15 


Galvanizing Furnaces. 34 

Garages, Automobile. 14 

Gasolene. 14 

General Appliances for the Extinguishment of Fires . 35 

Glazing. 96 

Glory-Holes .. 34 

Grain Elevators. 15 


Hat Factories . 
Hay in bales . . 
Hay in mows . . 

Hazard. 

Hazard, Moral 
Hazards .... 
Hazards, Common 


... r 5 

... 105 

... 105 

. . . 22 

■ ■ 2 3 

13, 17, 22, 23, 24 

... 13,22 


hi 



















































INDEX. 


Hazards, Inherent. 

Hazard, Physical. 

Hazards', Special. 

Head of Water 

Heap Measure. 

Heaters. 

Heating. 

Hose. 

Hot Ashes. 

Hydraulics. 

Hydrostatics. 

Ice in a Pile, Contents of . 
Individual Risk Report . . 

Inherent Hazard. 

Ink Factories. 

Inspection. 

Insured. 

Insurer. 

Inventory. 

Iron Safe Clause. 

Iron Workers. 

Japanning Furnaces . . . . 

Japanning Works. 

Joists. 

Kerosene. 


PAGE 

22 

2 3 

24 
26 

IOI 

34 

J 3 

36 

14 

26 

26 

106 
16 
14, 22 

r 5 

12 

22 

22 

84 

22 

15 


34 

1 5 

94 

14 


Lacquering Works. 

Ladders... . 

Lampblack. 

Lard Oil Refineries. 

Laths. 

Laundries. 

Legal Number of Pounds to the Bushel. 

Liable for, Amount. 

Liable for Loss, When Company is not. 

Liability, Denial of. 

Liability under a Policy follows automatically, When 

Lighting. 

Lightning Clause. 

Linear or Long Measure.. . 

Linoleum Factories. 

Local Agency Supplies. 

Losses, Underwriting Profits and. 

Local Agent, Relations with the. 


36 

14 

15 

94 

J 5 

102 

70 

47 

69 

49 

1 3 

23 

104 

I 5 

10 


Machine Shops . . . . 
Magistrates, Certificate of 
Map Correcting .... 

Map Making. 

Map Symbols (Sanborn) . 
Match Factories . ... 

Matches. 

Metal Stacks. 

Metal Workers .... 
Metric System. 


82 

18 

18 

20 

14, 34 
34 
*5 

106, 107 


112 























































INDEX. 

Miscellaneous Measurements and Weights 
Miscellaneous Weights 

Moral Hazard .. 

Mortgage and Other Interests 

Multiple Connections.’ ’ 

Multiple Series Connections. 

Nails. 

Neglect of Insured. 

Non-Concurrent Policies. 

Not liable for, What a Company is ..... 
Not liable for Loss, When a Company is . 

Occupancy . 

Oil Cloth Factories. 

Oily Metal Cuttings .. 

Oily Metal Filings. 

Oily Waste. 

Old Buildings ,. 

Open Sprinklers. 

Other Articles. 

Other Interests. 

Packing Houses . . 

Paint Factories. 

Paint Rags. 

Painting (Building Losses). 

Paper Measure. 

Paper Mills. 

Parol . . .. 

Partial Insurance. 

Patent Leather Factories. 

Payment of Loss. 

Physical Hazard.. 

Plastering (Building Losses). 

Policy, Assignment of. 

Policy, Blanket. 

Policy, Cancellation of. 

Policy, Delivery of. 

Policy, Stipulations and Conditions of a . . . . 

Policy, What will void a. 

Policy, automatically, When liability follows a . 
Policy, automatically, What becomes part of a 
Policy, subject to Conditions, Acceptance of a . 
Policy, unless provided for, What will Void a . 
Policy, Law, States having a Standard 

Policy, States having a Valued .. 

Policies, Non-Concurrent . . . 

Polishing . .. 

Potatoes, Contents in piles of. 

Premises. 

Premium. 

Premium, Earned. 

Premium, Return. 

Premium, Unearned. 

Pressure of Water. 


PAGE 

103 

106 

2 3 

58 

2 5 

2 5 

96 

48 

83 

48 

47 


17 

15 
14, 35 
14 35 

14, 34 , 35 

16 
36 
2 3 
58 


15 

16 
34 
95 
i°5 

16 

2 3 

2 3 

16 

77 
2 3 
93 


49 

22 

39 

40 

49 

49 

39 

42 

36 

36 

83 

34 

101 

2 3 

24 
22 

2.4 

2 5 
27. 28 


113 

















































INDEX. 


PAGE 


Printing.. 16 

Profits and Losses, Fire Underwriting. 37 

Proof of Loss. 78 

Proof of Loss, Satisfactory. 78 

Pro Rata. 24 

Protection. 17 

Provisions of the Contract of Insurance Applicable After 

a Fire. 59 

Provisions of the Contract of Insurance Applicable 

Before a Fire. 39 

Pumps. 36 

Pyrites Furnaces. 34 


Rafters (Building Losses) ... 

Rates. 

Reading Rule. 

Recovery, Suit for. 

Relations between Measures of Weights. 

Relations with the Local Agent. 

Relative Discharging Capacity of Pipes.. 

Rent Insurance . 

Repair Work (Building Losses). 

Report Making. 

Reports, Automatic Sprinkler.. 

Reports, Individual Risks. 

Reports, Town. 

Resident Agents’ Law, States having a. 

Return Premium. 

Risk, The.. . 

Roofing (Building Losses). 

Roofing, Felt. 

Roofing, Paper. 

Roofing, Shingle. 

Roofing, Slate. 

Roofing, Tin. 

Rubbish. 

Rule for ascertaining Value of Cars in Car Barn . . . 
Rules and Requirements, and List, National Board of 

Fire Underwriters. 

Rules and Tables on Building Losses. 

Barn Construction. 

Cost of some Specific Fireproof Buildings per cubic 

foot. 

Cubical Contents Rule. 

Detailed Estimates. 

Brick Work. 

Glazing. 

Joists.^. 

Laths.*. 

Masons’ Work. 

Nails. 

Painting. 

Plastering. 

Rafters. 

Frame Dwelling Construction. 

Repair Work.. 


94 

10 

83 

76 

104 

8 

30 

49 

100 

16 

18 

16 

18 

36 

24 

24 

94 

95 
95 

94 

95 
95 
I 3 

103 


98 

90 

89 

90 
90 
96 
94 

94 
90 

96 

95 

93 

94 

97 
too 


114 




















































INDEX. 


R °ofing. 04 

Felt . nr 

Paper. 95 

Sheet Lead. 06 

Shingles. Q . 

Slate. 0 e 

Tm. :::::::::: 95 

Stone Work. g 2 

Studding .. 94 

Table of Bricks in Walls of different thicknesses 91 

Table of Board Measurement. 93 

Units of Measurement for Mason s Work ... 00 

Wall Paper. nr 

Window Glass. 96 

Rules and Tables on Contents Losses. . 101 

Ale and Beer Measure. 105 

Anthracite Coal. 106 

Apothecaries’ Weight. 104 

Apples, Contents in a pile of. 101 

Architects’ or Builders’ Measure. 105 

Avoirdupois Weight. 104 

Bituminous Coal. 106 

Bushels of Grain in a Bin. 101 

Castings, To find weight from their Patterns . . 105 

Com, Contents in a pile of. 101 

Cubic or Solid Measure. 104 

Dry Measure. 101 

Hay in Bales, Contents in bale of. 105 

Hay in Mows, Contents of. 105 

Heap Measure. 101 

Ice in a Pile, Contents of. 106 

Legal number of Pounds to the Bushel .... 102 

Linear or Long Measure. 104 

Metric System of Weights and Measures .... 106, 107 
Miscellaneous Measurements and Weights . . . 103, 106 

Miscellaneous Weights. 106 

Paper Measure .. 105 

Potatoes, Contents in a pile of. 101 

Relations between Measures of Weight .... 104 

Square or Superficial Area Measure. 104 

Struck Measure. 101 

Troy Weight. 104 

United States Standard Bushel. 101 

Unity Table. 105 

Wine Measure. 105 


Salt. 

Salvage. 

Sanborn Map Symbols . . . 

Sand. 

Satisfactory Proof of Loss . 

Sawdust. 

Series Connections. 

Series Multiple Connections . 
Sheet Lead (Building Losses) 
Shingles. 


35 

24 

20 


2 5> 


35 


78 

14 

25 

26 
96 


94 


H5 


















































INDEX. 


PAGE 

Shoddy Mills. 16 

Shoe Blacking Factories. 16 

Shoe Factories. 16 

Short Rate. 24 

Short Rate Tables. 5 I_ 58 

Sidewalk Openings. 34 

Slate per Square. 95 

Slate, Roofing. 95 

Smelting Furnaces. 34 

Soldering Furnace. 34 

Solid Measure. 104 

Spaulding’s Table of Defjreciation. 71 

Special Agent. 5 

Special Agent and his Agency Work. 5 

Special Hazards . 24 

Spontaneous Combustion. 14. 35 

Sprinkler Report, Automatic. 18 

Sprinklers, Approved. 36 

Sprinklers, Automatic. 36 

Sprinklers, Open. 36 

Square or Superficial Area Measure. 104 

Standard Short Rate Scale (Western Union) .... 51 

Standpipes. 36 

Starch Factories. 16 

Statement of Loss. 84-88 

States having a Fire Marshal Law. 37 

States having a Resident Agents’ Law. 36 

States having a Standard Policy Law. 36 

States having a Valued Policy Law ........ 36 

Steam Jets. 35 

Steam Pipes. 33 

Stone Work (Building Losses). 92 

Stove Blacking Factories. 16 

Stoves. 35 

Struck Measure. 101 

Studding. 94 

vSubject to (any) Clause. 24 

Subrogation. 75 

Suit for Recovery. 76 

Sulphur Furnaces. 34 

Supplies, Local Agency. 10 

Tables; 

Ale or Beer Measure. 105 

Apothecaries’ Weight. 104 

Architects’ or Builders’ Measure. 105 

Avoirdupois Weight.*. . 104 

Board Measure. 93 

Bricks in Walls, Number of. 91 

Cancellation Table (Cleveland Fire Insurance 

Exchange). 55 

Capacity of Round Tanks. 29 

Contents of Pipes in Gallons. 29 

Cubic or Solid Measure. 104 

Dry Measure. 101 

Legal number of Pounds to the Bushel .... 102 

116 




















































XDEX. 


PAGE 

Linear or Long Measure. 104 

Metric System.106, 107 

Miscellaneous Measurements and Weights ... 103 

Miscellaneous Weights. 106 

Nails. 96 

Paper Measure. 105 

Pressure of Water. 27, 28 

Relations between Measures of Weight ... 104 

Relative Discharging Capacity of Pipes .... 30 

Short Rate Table (New York Fire Insurance 

Exchange). 53 

Slate per Square.•. 95 

Spaulding’s Table of Depreciation. 71 

Square or Superficial Area Measure. 104 

Standard Short Rate Scale (Western Union) . . 51 

Temperature of Steam. 31 

Tiffany’s Estimates of Depreciation. 71 

Troy Weight. 104 

L T nited States Standard Bushel. 101 

United States Standard Gallon of Water . . 27 

Unity Table. 105 

Velocity of Water . '. 28 

Weight of Water. 28 

Window Glass. 96 

Wine Measure. i °5 

Tanneries. 1 6 

Theft. 4 $ 

Three-fourths Loss Clause. 24 

Three-fourths Value Clause. 24 

Tin, Roofing. 95 

Tinsmith’s Furnace. 34 

Tobacco Curing. 

Tobacco Factories. *6 

Total Loss. 2 4 

Town Report. *8 

Umpire. 6 5 

Underwriting. 2 5 

Underwriting Profits and Losses, Fire. 37 

Unearned Premium. 2 5 

United States Standard Bushel. 101 

United States Standard Gallon of Water 27 

Unity of Measure for Masons’ Work . 9 ° 

Unity, Measure of. 10 5 

Use and Occupancy Insurance. 49 

Useful Information. 21 

Vacancy. 47 

Valued Policy Law, States having a. 3 6 

Varnish Works. ^ 

Velocity of Water. 

Visiting an Agency. 

Void a Policy, What will. 40 

Void a Policy unless provided for, What will . . . 4 2 

Vouchers.' • • • • So. Sa 

ll 7 
















































INDEX. 


Wagon Works. 

Waiver. 

Wall Paper. 

Weight of Water. 

What a Company is not liable for. 

What becomes a part of the Contract of Insurance 

automatically . . .. 

What will void a policy. 

What will void a policy unless otherwise provided . 

When a Company is not liable for loss. 

When Liability under a Policy follows the property to 

another Location.. 

Whitewash. 

Window Glass (Building Losses).. 

Wine Measure . . .. 

Wood-Pulp Mill. 

Woodworkers. 

Woolen Mills. 


PAGE 

16 

67 


48 

49 
40 
42 
47 

49 
3 1 
96 

105 

16 

16 

16 





























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* 








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